“Be intentional!” the keynote speaker said confidently at a big conference I attended. People around me dashed out one idea after another on their notepads. My friend leaned over and whispered, “Everyone else seems to know what they want—why don’t I?”
Does that statement sound familiar? Probably so! At one point or another, we’ve all felt like the only person who doesn’t have everything figured out.
You may have tried to address this issue by following recommendations from friends and family, whether that was pursuing graduate school or saying you wanted to travel the world. Traipsing off to Tanzania sounds cool, but if it doesn’t make your heart say, “Yes!” it’s not the right intention for you.
Perhaps the pendulum swung to the other side as you pressured yourself to find the perfect answer. But you never got past square one. January 1 became summer, then became fall as there was one more book to read, one more person to talk to, and one more video to watch.
Successful intentions happen by choosing goals important to you, not by following the crowd. So, set aside all the expert advice. Step back from the suggestions of well-meaning friends and family. Then use this hack to find your intention: Ask yourself what nags you week in and week out.
What is the message you can’t get out of your head—the words you hear like a chiming bell or an ambulance siren off in the distance? That echo may be faint, but it is powerful inspiration. It is how your instincts are revealing the intention hiding in plain sight.
Vela’s husband, Julian, caught her eye as she stood over the dining room table sifting through a banker’s box filled with artwork. “Hey—I thought you were on your way out to the recycling bin.”
“Yeah…I thought so, too,” Vela said, sifting through pictures she drew for her daughter to go along with her Mexican folklore stories. During the last five years, a few sketchbooks had grown to a collection. “I just can’t throw these drawings away.”
“I’m not surprised you want to hang on to them,” Julian said, putting his arm around her. “They remind you of all the fun you’ve had with our baby girl.”
Vela shook her head. “You’re right, but I want to talk to you about something else. This artwork is more than a hobby. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I’ve been creating a portfolio. If someone else showed me this work, I would think they’ve spent the last five years as an illustrator.”
“Are you saying you want to sell these pictures? They’re so personal. Honey are you sure?”
“You’re right—I wouldn’t sell these pictures. But I’m ready to learn what illustrating children’s books is all about. I lucked out finding a great job when we moved to Austin, and I’ve been happy at the studio. But when I think about the next 30 years of my life…,” she shook her head, trailing off. “I just don’t see myself spending those years only investing in someone else’s dreams.”
At first glance, Vela’s choice seemed straightforward—“What should I do with this artwork?” Reason might have told her, “These drawings aren’t going anywhere. Throw them away.” But there’s much more to her situation than a basic save-or-recycle decision. The fact Vela couldn’t let the sketchbooks go said something important—that was the quiet message that kept echoing to her. It was urging her to pursue a more rewarding creative expression.
Here’s the secret no one tells you about listening to your instincts: Most of the time, they’re incredibly subtle, just like the hints Vela received. But part of being a Soul Boss—the creative, wise CEO of your life—is learning how to listen to your instincts for ideas that will light you up. Discounting thoughts simply because they are still at the inspiration stage will short-circuit a golden opportunity.
What would a CEO do with their inspiration? First, they would ask for research. Next, they would sketch out strategies based on their findings. Then, they would pursue one or two ideas with smart tactics.
Vela can mimic the CEO path to support her intention of becoming an illustrator. Perhaps she’ll eventually change jobs or even own her own business, but those choices are down the road. Step one is following her internal GPS to explore what illustrating children’s books entails. Every time she gains more knowledge, she can check in with her gut by asking, “Is this still right for me?” That’s using the skill of discernment to decide if she has chosen the right creative path.
Now that Vela is ready to find out about illustrating, she can use the What-Why-How model to craft an intention with room to grow. Her framework might look like this:
What: Create artwork for children’s books.
Why: My work is deeply personal. Illustrating is artistically challenging and emotionally rewarding. I’m a serious artist dedicated to producing quality pieces. I want to balance my family’s financial security without postponing my artwork for “someday.”
How: I will learn about being a book illustrator through research on the web, listening to podcasts, and asking friends for tips. And I’ll trust my instincts, such as following the urge to show someone my portfolio, take a short freelance project, or network with someone new.
There’s a funny silver lining that comes with following your instincts—you save time. You skip past someone else’s idea about what you should be doing and jump straight to what’s right for you. That’s an example of acting on insights from your internal GPS, which demonstrates the Soul Boss® principle of connecting your powerful emotions and intellect.
Profound messages are waiting for you, but here’s the problem—they may be overshadowed by the loud voices of fear or perfectionism. You’ll find the intention hiding in plain sight by acknowledging whispering thoughts like these:
The next time you’re unsure about what intention to set, kickstart the process by completing this sentence: “I’m inspired to _______________.” Whatever comes through is your heart’s desire.
1. Use the skill of listening for the echo when you’re not sure where to start. Whatever nags you week in and week out is the intention hiding in plain sight.
2. Following the crowd short-circuits your intention. Pursuing what is important to you lights up your intentions.
3. The Make it fast, Make it deep, Make it real challenge:
4. Intentions work when you listen to your instincts and don’t work when you ignore inspired ideas.
Check out Light it Up—7 Skills for Setting Intentions That Work today at Amazon.