Mindfully Me, ‘Intentions’
by meditative - March 20th, 2017.Filed under: Mindfulness for Parents & Children.
Mindfulness is being purposefully aware of here & now. Intentional is a mind-set, a willful and determined way of responding and doing that may encompass behaviors, attitudes, thoughts, and feelings. To be intentional, it is our object (purpose) for being a certain way… for example, kind, patient, understanding, etc. It may be our intent (purpose) to be patient… and it is mindfulness that helps us to remember this intent.
Our intentions & mindfulness reinforce each other. To be intentional directs our attention on a particular objective, and mindfulness is the awareness necessary to sustain our focus. Simply noticing our intention as it is or is not carried out in our actions… is the work of mindfulness.
The intentions we mentally model for ourselves are generally qualities we aspire to embody. We recognize opportunities and put forth efforts to realize our intentions. We start small by setting reasonable intentions- engaged & motivated by the process not just the goal. For instance, we may be patient under some circumstances and impatient under others. Mindfulness will help us to ‘stay the course’ and work with whatever circumstances arise- whether they reflect & reinforce our intention or not.