Showing up with intention 2.0

This week’s topic for reflection is a continuation of showing up with intention with an addition at the end. There are two requirements for success. The first is you have to show up. The second is you need to be clear about your intention.

Let’s look at showing up first. Being human we have the potential and opportunity to do something but first we have to show up. Showing up is about choosing what you want to do and then showing up to do it. This sometimes means being courageous or determined. Yes, really show up. Greet the day and the opportunity whole heartedly and be alive. Welcome the life around you as an integral part of yourself. Show up for it and as it. There’s no hiding in showing up. Be human and all the things that go into being human. Get back up when you need to and apologize when you should. Perfect is not the world I live in.

This brings us to intention. There is specific intention like buying things on a shopping list. Then there is a more subtle or broad intention like being open, curious and joyful toward what is encountered in the store.

Intention is not reactive. I like to notice where I am reactive. Sometimes my reactivity is preloaded to act without being triggered by a situation. When I’m aware of a reactivity that seems to be hard wired into me, I try to establish an intention to act a different hopefully appropriate way ahead of time. By creating the space to notice the reactivity before it acts out and substituting a different response, the reactivity gradually looses its power.

Showing up with intention does not mean being in control of what happens. Intention simply means being clear about where you are coming from or in what direction you are headed. What happens is not totally under your control as so much of what happens is influenced by others. There is an interesting dance between ourselves and everything, influencing and being influenced where it’s very hard to determine the line where self becomes other. Being aware of not really being in control of the outcome, what is your intention?

Showing up to life with intention leads to a meaningful life that makes a difference. Hope to see you this Sunday.

Please join us for morning Zoom zazen from 7:00 to 7:30 Tuesday and Thursday, and Sunday morning Zoom zazen and discussion of the topic for reflection blog from 8:00 to 9:00 Pacific Time. Here’s the Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81161003357?pwd=M0gwRjBENHZDbndUcFRrK004NlQ5Zz09

Meeting ID: 811 6100 3357

Passcode: 278259

Gassho,

Futai