The Anti-Power of Intention

January 18th, 2007 · 4 Comments

I don’t believe in the Power of Intention … there I’ve said it

Today, some of the most popular speakers, books, and articles are on the power of intention. I have read my fair share, and listened to speakers talk about this power for years, and it’s time for me to make my stand, unpopular as it might be.

Power of Intention

I don’t believe in the Power of Intention. There … I’ve said it. Many popular blogs have espoused the reality of intention and even coerced people join them in their quest for material blessings from a mystical force in nature. I keep thinking … what’s wrong with this picture?

Don’t get me wrong, I believe in positive thinking, positive living, working to improve one-self, and many other aspects of what is called personal development. I just don’t believe the ether can produce health or wealth for me. Not now, not ever.

Positive Thinking

What about the seeming contradiction with positive thinking? I don’t think there is any contradiction. Having a good attitude and exuding an upbeat nature shows us the glass half-full, but not necessarily expecting a reward.

By maintaining a positive attitude, we open ourselves to seeing things in a different light and noticing things that might otherwise be missed, but to intention money and watch it magically appear, as some claim, is the height of trust and belief. But in what? Father time … mother nature … master universe? Maybe in self-actualization (don’t get met started)? I’ve never heard an answer that satisfies me or my intellect. It is usually said to “just happen” with a mystical force implied.

I guess the closest comparison would be visualization. If you see your self thin, you will become thin. If you see yourself hitting the ball 380 yards down the middle of the fairway, you will step up and accomplish it. This holds water until Tiger Woods steps up, after visualizing the perfect shot, and duck-hooks one out-of-bounds. What happened? Reality!

Does visualization work? I think we need to define the terms.

Visualization

If we are talking about seeing something in our minds eye to help us focus on the task at hand, then yes, I think it can assist our focus. If seeing it in our minds eye causes it to happen? Not a chance, but that seems to be the implication.

That borders on the edge of voodoo and very strange science with a bit of magic thrown in.

If you begin to focus all your thinking on a particular subject, will you notice new things, or different aspects to the subject. Sure! Was the answer provided by the power of intention or visualizing the subject? I don’t see how.

Even if the focus is gaining money, how can someone attribute a windfall to the power of intention? Even a penny found on the ground is explained by this mystical force of intention. Since it was unexpected, they say, you have wished it into existence with your mind.

Just writing the same things that are claimed by the proponents of intention, makes them seem incredulous. How can someone make these claims with a straight face? I don’t know.

It’s your turn. What do you think?

[tags]power of intention, visualization, positive thinking, positive living[/tags]

Tags: Motivation

4 responses so far ↓

1 Kent Blumberg (4 comments.) // Jan 19, 2007 at 4:39 pm

My non-scientific, evidence-free view is that “intention” is necessary, but not sufficient for making happen what you want to have happen. I don’t believe you’ll get as much done if you don’t have clear intentions, but I don’t believe intentions are enough. Taking Albert Einstein’s lead, I say,

‘Making things happen is 1% intention and 99% perspiration.’

Kent
2 Larry Hendrick // Jan 19, 2007 at 4:55 pm

Yes, clearly focused, defined goals being the 1% intention and I’m with you. Some, which I intentionally didn’t link to, push it way past that though, gaining great popularity.
3 Coach elan (1 comments.) // Feb 16, 2007 at 1:14 am

I would recommend the book “The Field” if you’re interested in the scientifics behind it.

The bottom line behind the Power of Intention/Law of Attraction is that everything is energy, we are all in it, of it and have the power to use it.

It’s light years beyond positive thinking. It’s knowing the certainty of a fulfilled desire or experience without condition, question or doubt, even before you experience it in your reality. And aligning with the energy of that desire as if it were already in existence.

Your brain doesn’t know the difference between a memory or a visualization. If you have the capacity to vividly “remember” an experience, even one you haven’t had yet and remain aligned with the feeling of that experience, you’ll bring it into your physical reality.

It really does require a suppression of the ego’s limited view of reality and embracing that place deep within all of us that senses and knows there’s something more to the magic that brought us all here together.
4 Larry Hendrick // Feb 16, 2007 at 10:05 am

Thank you for your comment Coach, I appreciate it and the conversation.

While I haven’t read that particular book, I have taken advantage of many resources to come to my conclusions.

The shortest way I can sum up my beliefs on the subject is this. It attempts to replace God with the “energy of the universe.” The Power of Intention/Attraction is Prosperity Theology, without God. Just have enough faith in the unseen/unknown and it will make itself available to you.

I just don’t buy it, so therefore, it will never work for me. I don’t have strong enough faith … except in God!