Holiday Intention

For any experience, we can become conscious and aware before the event in a way that influences the experience, the process, and the outcome.  We call this “forming an intention.”If we don’t form an intention, or if we form an unconscious negative intention, we become victims rather than authors of our experience.Let’s apply these principals to our upcoming holiday season and see how each choice plays out.1.    We don’t form an intention.If we don’t form an intention, we are subject to other people’s intentions, particularly their unconscious intentions.  For example, some family members may be operating from unconscious anger or passive aggression. They are not vicious, just unconscious.  Other people may have unconscious intentions to control, to be the center of attention, to withdraw, to create drama, to act out past pain or dull their pain, and on and on in infinite possibilities.If you don’t form an intention for yourself and your engagement, you will be blown by these winds and take it personally, get upset, feel helpless, unsatisfied, not connect, and have an interesting but unfulfilling holiday experience.2. We form or act from an unconscious intention.If we don’t form a conscious intention, it may be difficult to not operate from an unconscious intention.We may begin to act from past pain, try to resolve past relationship issues, or try to get other people to buy into our anger or victimhood.  We may have unconscious intentions to control, to be the center of attention, to withdraw, create drama, act out past pain, dull our pain, and on and on in infinite possibilities.It is unlikely that a) we will actually resolve these issues by unconsciously acting out our unconscious intentions; or b) that we will generate much happiness or fun in our holiday experience.3.    We form a conscious intention for the holiday season.A third possibility is to choose an approach or intention for our holiday engagement that will generate fun and happiness, and then play it out to the best of our abilities, getting better the more we practice.This is different from faking it or playing a role.  It is a deep desire to manifest an aspect of ourselves that will serve us and others.Some examples: Generosity of Spirit, Accepting, Inviting, Inclusive, Telling the Compassionate Truth, Service to Others, Going with the Flow, Creating Laughter, Play, Engagement, Gratitude, Interested in Others, a Sense of Wonder, Easy-Going, Loving Kindness…When we have an intention for ourselves and our engagement, we do our best, we see where we get thrown off track, we inquire of ourselves, look deep, then reengage our intentions and play it out.What would it look like if we all chose a conscious intention and played it out in this holiday season?  What intention could you choose for yourself?