The Power of Intention Part 10 of 10: Intentionality
March 13, 2009 by dr. lam · 14 Comments
I conclude this 2 week series with an exercise that I found very meaningful during my EO retreat to Marble Falls a few weeks ago and that I thought I would pass along to you. Carl Reynolds, our retreat planner (great job Carl!), put this exercise together so it does not come from Wayne Dyer’s book. Intentionality is, believe it or not, a real word. However, the philosophical construct behind it is quite difficult for the armchair philosopher in me to decode. I welcome comments. In this case, we are going to treat the word intentionality and intention the same. My goal is simply to have you perform this exercise either in private or in this blog if you are so inclined. I will publish my own answers below. I hope you can skip my answers and come up with your own, then read my answers. Here we go:
PART I
Intentionality: ”When your dreams and your values are in alignment and your actions progress you towards your vision with constant purpose.”
Dreams: In this exercise we are going to dream. Take money out of the equation. what would you do with your time? Travel? Volunteer? Teach, consult, raise your kids yourself, etc. Write down a list of those activities that you would do if you had the time…Dream big or as small as you want to…. (10 minutes)
-Teach plastic surgery
-Public speaking
-Write a lay press book
-Workout every day to get more fit
-Volunteer to mentor bright young minds
-Engage in more concerted spa retreats and continue with my personal growth
PART II
Values: Now we are going to list our values. Take a moment and write down at least 5 values that are core to you. (5 minutes)
1. Passion
2. Integrity
3. Work ethic/Rest- Balance
4. Compassion/Love
5. Happiness/Positivity
PART III
Filter: List two of the dreams that make it through your value filter. (2 minutes)
1. Continue with my personal growth and achieve better balance in my life.
2. Volunteer/mentor young minds
PART IV
At this point we now have two dreams that have made it through your filter. Our next step is to be intentional in putting together an action plan that brings these important dreams to fruition. But first, describe one or two times when you knew you were in alignment with your values and your purpose. What pulled you away from that alignment? What keeps you from getting back to that alignment? Be specific. (15 min.)
I felt that my staff has been in alignment with me in the past. I felt that I was not as attuned to their needs this past year, which I have now changed. I am part of multiple accountability groups that have weekly and monthly goals. I fear not being the best leader that I can be. I fear that I will not grow personally to my satisfaction.
PART V
Intentionality: Create an action plan for one of the dreams that made it through the filter. List at least 5 activities that will need to be scheduled so that you are intentionally working towards accomplishing that goal. (15 min.)
1. Schedule body rehabilitation time including monthly rolf sessions and weekly massage therapies.
2. Dedicate one weekend day a month completely free of any thought toward work and make it entirely fun.
3. Make sure that I have built in weekly yoga and spin classes, every single week unless I am out of town.
4. Continue to work every week on creative ideas toward making effective blogs and hold myself accountable for what I write.
5. To move away from constantly being near a computer every night but to be less anchored to my keyboard. To respond to questions and thoughts no more than twice in a given night after leaving work.
I hope you enjoyed this exercise and can hold yourself accountable for your actions. If you can’t, find someone who can. Maybe we all can be cyber buddies to keep each other in alignment with our own intentions.