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Even intentions to which you have a high level of commitment can end up ineffectual if countervailing thoughts coexist. What makes these competing thoughts especially damaging and hard to deal with is that frequently they occur below the level of our consciousness. For example, the subconscious belief that my desired outcome is unattainable or that I don't deserve to succeed will give rise to thoughts that reduce the strength of my stated intention, perhaps to the point of impotence. It is important, therefore, to try to bring to consciousness any competing thoughts and then, having decided which outcome you really want to create, to minimize any thoughts that could block that outcome.

Being honest with yourself about “why”

Before rushing into action or considering the “how to” questions it is important to be quite clear on the “why” question. Not only can one have mutually exclusive outcomes in mind, for each outcome there may also be several different motivations (including some of which we are not consciously aware) acting at the same time. Each of these motivations acts as a separate intention even though they may all share the same desired outcome. For example, your goal could be to stay in your marriage. This goal could be motivated by a fear of being alone or it might be motivated by love for your partner. Again there is the possibility that these motivations will compete with each other such that neither of the corresponding intentions will have much power.

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To simplify matters, I suggest that you think of motivations as arising from one of two sources: your ego or your authentic Self. Motivations originating in the ego are usually expressed in terms of fear, guilt, “shoulds,” getting something, or achieving power over someone. The outcomes of intentions motivated by the ego are not as powerful as those originating in the authentic Self because they bring no lasting sense of satisfaction.

On the other hand, when your intentions are aligned with the authentic Self, you connect to the creative power of the universe – the universal Spirit or consciousness (which we may call “God,” or a variety of other names); you access that powerful force that sustains, unifies, and energizes all of creation.

The power of a strong, clear intention, which is also aligned with your unique purpose as represented by the authentic Self, is freely available to everyone. It doesn't have to be earned or won because it comes from within. All that is necessary to realize this innate power is to approach it with consciousness.

Replacing control with trust

Having given proper attention to all three aspects of your intention, it is only necessary to release control and trust your intention to carry you towards your goal. The path and the opportunities will present themselves to you. All you need to do is watch for them.

G. Ross Lawford, Ph.D., speaker, facilitator, and coach, specializes in personal and corporate effectiveness. Author of The Quest for Authentic Power: Getting Past Manipulation, Control and Self-Limiting Beliefs, Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Email: rlawford@attcanada.ca