I saw this sign pinned to a board at my massage therapist’s office:

It made me think of intentions. If I resolved to be the most self-interested jackass I could be, would anyone doubt that I could meet that goal? Don’t answer that- it’s a rhetorical question!

But if I stated my intentions on being consistently kind, I think it’d come across as Pollyana-ish. I’d doubt my own ability to meet that goal so I bet everyone else would be as well.

Maybe that’s because we doubt we can maintain boundaries and be kind. Or because there is an inherent self-interest involved in being human.

But most of all, I think we’ve been taught that there is hubris in stating grand goals. Somewhere down the line I was taught not to think too big or even if I did, not to say it out loud.

There is so much power in intention though. I’m quite sure nothing works out exactly as I envision but setting my intention always gets me somewhere. Sometimes things work out even better than I could have dreamed.

It reminds me of the time I was in my late 20’s and came around a corner and saw Mt. Rainier looming in the distance. I’d seen it hundreds of time but this time I thought, “I’m going to climb that mountain.” It was laughable – I was a tennis player at the time, not even an avid hiker.

I didn’t succeed on my first attempt – but I did on the next one. It led to climbing mountains all over the Pacific Northwest as well as Russia, Nepal, Peru, Italy, and Mexico.

Sure, my legs have gotten me to the top of many mountains. But I wouldn’t have been there without the intention to become a climber.

So, I’ll say it here, what I want to be is kind. I wonder where in the world that will get me. I wonder where in the world it would get all of us if we set the intention.

All this reflection just because someone thought to tack a sign on a corkboard. Not bad, huh?

(featured photo from Pexels)

You can find me on Instagram @wynneleon and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/

I co-host a storytelling podcast featuring authors and artists with the amazing Vicki Atkinson. To tune in, search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or Pocketcasts (and subscribe) or click here. Or the YouTube channel features videos of our interviews. Please subscribe!

My other projects include work as a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), speaking about creativity and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association, and my book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.