Attention vs Intention.

The book for the Amor Book Group for the month of March has been The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra.  What an amazing book! One of the understandings in the book that I have taken to heart is “Attention vs. Intention.”  One of the things that I teach at Amor is that there is nothing outside of us.  “Everything we need to know, we already have.”  This is not to say that we do not learn from the things going on in our world. This is a reminder to self that the answer always lies within.  I have noticed within myself that I will often put the “attention” on someone else to take it off of myself.  Another one of those sayings I love is “no matter where you go there you are”. 

With attention, I find I am looking outside of myself for an understanding or an idea that will explain what is going on or why.  At Amor we understand "why" stands for “What Happened Yesterday” and that it really is of no use to me today.  During my personal journey with cancer, I found that everyone was putting their attention on the fight, the cause, the reason…the "why?"  It was in that moment in my life that I went inside.  One of the lines from the book, finding the Joy in Cancer, which I love is “It was at this time I become my own practitioner, healer, and teacher.”  I took the time to look inside myself to see what was going on with me rather than putting all the focus on the outside.  I had been living the other way far too long.  That was the very thing that brought me to this place.  I had focused all my attention on what others thought of me and what would make them happy.  It was eating me alive. 

Once at this place, I realized that I needed to know what was happening on the inside if I wanted to change what was happening on the outside.  I started choosing what I wanted in my life rather than taking "come what may.”  I learned this great technique from an Ester and Jerry Hicks' book about writing out my intention.  I started using that and continue to use it to this day.  What is it that I want to happen in this now moment?  What do I intent to bring to this now moment?  What is my intention? 

With this and other tools in my tool box I realize I am responsible for what I bring to the table.  I am responsible for my attitude, my joy, my happiness, and most importantly, how I love myself. I have learned that I had known this truth all along and forgotten it somewhere along the path.  I could have at that moment put all my “attention” on finding out where, or I could continue with my “intention” on looking inside knowing that what I create on the inside of my life is what must be made manifest on the outside. To remember I am responsible for how I see things, and how I love myself. 

I have found my truth to be that attention is outward focused, and intention is inward focused.  Today I know for myself that everything I need to know is within.  Take some time today and look within for the answers in your life. 

I love you

Rev. Allen