Experience, Intention & Interpretation

When I work with people, there is a learning period in which the inquiry process gets better and better.  Inquiry (being coached/mentored) takes practice.  We tend to think it is all about the teacher we’ve chosen, but at least 50% is about how open and receptive we ourselves are.  It’s a matter of learning to grow with our coaches/mentors.One of the first distinctions I teach my clients is between experience, intention, and interpretation.I find experience and intention very useful information, while interpretation can sometimes be more problematic.Experience is data: What did you experience?  What did you feel?  What was said?  What did you see?  What residue do you still feel now?  Where do you feel it?  What emotions are you feeling?Intention is what you want.  Sometimes intention gets confused with interpretation.What you want (intention) ultimately means what outcome you want for yourself.  We often get confused between intention (outcome) and process.  “I want them to do this” is not an intention; it is a process that you think will get you what you want.  Intention is more like, “I want to feel good about the weekend,” or “I want to be successful at this job.”When opening to receive coaching/mentoring, it is helpful to let go of any solutions that may pop up in your head and to simply share your experience and your intentions (wants) while opening up to the possibilities.This is because interpretations and processes tend to keep us stuck.Interpretation is how our mind classifies the experiences we are having.  Interpretation is learned and is the primary factor that creates dysfunction and unhappiness.  If your interpretation is working for you, if you are happy, loving, energized, content, successful, and have great relationships, then no problem.However, if things are not working, and you are feeling angry, unhappy, fearful, anxious, depressed, discontent, ineffective, or your relationships are not working, then 99% of the time it is because of your interpretations.  This is what makes Inquiry Method work.  Through the Inquiry Method process, we can identify the interpretation that is not working, shift it, and things start working again.  You begin to see new possibilities.  You recognize how to proceed.  You shift from being unhappy to viewing everything that is happening as a great opportunity.The possibilities are wide open. It is all in your interpretation.