Dr. Marie Dezelic

From Attention to Intention

© 2010 by M. Dezelic & G. Ghanoum

 

 

“The person who knows one thing and does it better than anyone else, even if it only be the art of raising lentils, receives the crown he merits.” (Og Mandino)

 

This beautiful season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is a powerful time for spiritual focus and attention on Jesus, often gets crowded with the excessive shopping and busy-ness.  The added stress of the holidays may contribute to distract us from focusing on the true purpose of the season.  We try to do and accomplish so much, spread ourselves thin, yet really do not feel a sense of satisfaction in the end.  And in the meanwhile, we lose our focus.

 

Sometimes we are anxious and troubled about many things. Let us focus our attention and do one thing Intentionally!

 

Intentionality is the driving force in an area of our life that allows us to succeed and thrive.  This is the main difference between winners and losers.  If your intention is to lose 10 pounds, you will need to create a plan of action and be determined to intentionally get to your goal.  Successful people are Intentionaland not merely well-intentioned.  We need to rediscover and recognize that driving force within us, which is the power of Intentionality. 

 

It is a matter of focus; you get what you focus on!  You create what you focus on!  Focus is defined as the concentration of attention on something.  How to stay focused and not be distracted is the biggest challenge.  Procrastination, avoidance and discouragement strike us in one way or another and work to draw our focus away from our Intention.  We are then left with good intentions followed by faulty excuses.  Being Intentional requires making an effort and giving up excuses to reach our determined goal.

 

We need to call our attention to focus on one thing- slowing down, in order to bring about balance and be energized.  Instead of doing too much and accomplishing little (multi-tasking without focus), we can do one thing well, become Intentional in taking time of silence to listen and contemplate.  When we focus everywhere, we scatter our energy and miss the opportunities of the moment.  When we focus on one thing, we create energy and direction.  In the words of Confucius “If you try to do too much, you will not achieve anything.”  When we concentrate our energy in the right place, we balance the doing and the being, creating the results we desire. 

 

In this time of shopping and busy-ness, take a pause to reevaluate what is most important.  Try to do something different this year and become Intentional about slowing down and savoring life.  Chose to change your focus from the many things you have to do to focusing on one thing- your connection with God/Universe/Nature/Family/Friends.  Attention to your Intention will help you improve your wellbeing and your well-doing!

 

“If you focus on what you have, you will end up having more.  If you focus on what you lack, you’ll never have enough.” (Oprah Winfrey)