Mindfully Intending Community Uplift (Part II)

Once we have in mind the things we want to create for ourselves and community we can set about consciously co-creating them through intention and action.

Intention is really about setting a direction--a trajectory--for our thoughts and action. The more conscious we can be about it, the more likely we will reach our desired visions, goals, objectives. What we create out in the world begins with what we create in our hearts and minds. Thoughts create everything: from our mood and how we see the world, to all that we see in the world.

Thoughts create everything: from our mood and how we see the world, to all that we see in the world.

It's important to distinguish between intention and expectation. Intention is present moment oriented, engaged in the process of becoming. It is flexible and the possibilities for outcomes that meet our needs and desires are greater because we aren't holding onto a fixed idea of what the outcome needs to look like, as happens with expectation. Expectation is focused solely on the outcome and ignores the process and the path. There is usually striving and struggling to make the outcome look a particular way and that outcome is usually narrowly defined--limited by the mind. There is less of a chance of our needs and desires being met because we are only looking for what we are expecting will fulfill us, missing most of our life along the way. If it doesn't look the way we expect, we experience disappointment, dissatisfaction and sometimes anger.

Intention is present moment oriented, engaged in the process of becoming. It is flexible and possibilities for outcomes that meet our needs and desires are greater because we aren't holding onto a fixed idea of what the outcome needs to look like.

Working from intention is from an emerging and aspiring space rather than from a rigid and forced space. It's like the difference between impressionism and paint by numbers. Impressionists are working within the parameters of beginning with a rough idea for an image or scene--something that captures them. They're not exactly sure how the finished product is going to look, but they're actively engaged in the process and curious about the emergence of the final image. They are busy mixing colors that feel right in the moment, dotting some here and some there. And while it may look chaotic in the process, the outcome, when reflecting from a distance, captures the essence of the image and can sometimes be quite a surprise.

With a paint by numbers exercise, the outcome is fixed. The colors are chosen and we may nervously try to keep the paint inside the lines, creating distress in the process. If we do go outside the lines, we feel we have failed. We are disappointed and maybe angry at our self, maybe carrying this attitude through the rest of the process. We know what the picture is supposed to look like but if we've made mistakes along the way, that may be what we notice most.

While the preference of approach is up to each individual, I've discovered a more rich and fulfilling process from working from intention. And since we can't hold onto anything anyway--even those reached goals--for me, engaging in the process moment by moment offers more opportunity for happiness and pleasure.

Besides which, there are more opportunities for me to feel joy than my mind can conjure up and that's the beauty of living from intention--I'm not limited to my mind's capacity--there is room for grace and the divine mystery. (Which always seems to surpass my mind, anyway!)

• May we come to know ourselves in a loving, accepting and caring way
  

We can use a loving kindness style practice for affirming our intentions for ourselves and community. In the spirit of well wishing and really affirming these aspirations in our hearts and minds, repeat these phrases (or those of your own) that capture your highest aspiration for yourselves, your loved ones and the community you live. We can even include the four-leggeds and wingeds that live among us--the whole natural living system:

• • • May we continue to create the conditions that support our fresh, clean air, pure water, healthy food and food systems here and beyond so we may all enjoy and thrive within them
    • May our environment be vibrant and healthy for all
    • May we have fun and enjoy cultivating a vibrant healthy aliveness in our bodies, hearts and minds
    • May we continue to create conditions that support the health and well being of all that are in our community
    • May we each have the opportunities to learn to our greatest potential and aspirations
    • May we continue to create conditions that support our community's highest learning capabilities
    • May we come to know ourselves in a loving, accepting and caring way
    • May we be free from inner and outer harm. May we be safe.
    • May we meet each other with kindness and care
    • May we enjoy healthy, loving, fulfilling and joyful relationships
    • May we learn to celebrate our similarities and our uniquenesses
    • May we continue to create conditions that support opportunities to come together in loving, healthy, vibrant, joyful community
    • May we each discover, express and live in our greatest potential, our highest good and truth
    • May we continue to create conditions in our communities that support meaningful purpose, work and contribution
    • May we be happy, may we be deeply, deeply happy

As you close the practice, take some silent time to feel the essence of your intentions come alive in your body. Maybe a new tingling, vibration or resonance becomes apparent as you rest with these. Whatever it is, as you begin to move on with your day, feel that you are living these intentions in all you do. Stay alive, alert and open to the moment, connected with your heart.