Attention and Intention

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”            -Carl Jung

Synchronicity as described by Carl Jung  is meaningful coincidence. It is the gift of wisdom (and meaning) that is received when you listen with your heart and release your mind to experience unhindered perception. It occurs when you trust your mind to “do it’s thing” and make associations – to connect thoughts and memories and feelings.

This concept has been pulled into focus for me a great number of times over the past few weeks, as I have encountered repeated invitations to consider the topic of intention. What is my intention with this blog? What are my personal and professional intentions in general as well as in regard to specific activities like therapy sessions with clients, supervision with trainees, personal meditations – even things like cooking and getting dressed? And, as such, I have been encouraged to become more mindful and engaged. I have become more aware of the ways in which I choose to participate in my own life, and of some of the ways in which I can absolutely do better.

We actually hear the words intention and mindfulness rather frequently, don’t we? I can say that for the longest time both of these seemed to me to be challenging notions that required more energy and time than I could afford to spare. But I was wrong – ever so beautifully wrong. These are actually immediately accessible and attainable things. And the achievement of these can be effortless – when you allow your mind to do another one of “it’s things” and simply pay attention.

Just. Pay. Attention.

And so – as I’ve been pondering these words and their meanings: synchronicity, intention, attention, I began to see how they connect. I began to see how each of these reflect the intersection of awareness and meaning – a sacred point at a magical crossroads, where the true essence of what it means to be alive seems to be revealed.

So wait, what are we talking about here?

Well, attention is focus. Directed awareness. We are familiar with this . And intention is clarified choice of how one might use and hold attention in order to be or become something. Here again we find ourselves at a place where we have been all along, but likely without full awareness. When I anticipate or expect something I am inadvertently setting an intention for it. I am denying myself that essential key of purposeful decision making. So what do I need to do differently? I need to look. And see.

Let me tell you a story.

One day many years ago I found myself having the experience of being stuck in a horrible traffic jam. I don’t remember many  details of the situation, but I do know that it was a warm summer day and that I was somewhere in New Jersey on what was apparently a tremendously popular highway. I also recall being fully preoccupied with my frustration with the circumstances and with the ridiculous unfairness of such a terrible inconvenience. I was close enough to the car in front of me to see it’s occupants – and both still and restless enough to allow myself to become interested in what they might be doing.

As I reluctantly shifted my car into park in order to give my driving foot a rest, I saw two people in the front seat having a conversation, and a young girl of maybe 8 or 9, sitting in the backseat quietly looking out of the window. I could see the features of her face and noticed that she appeared to maybe have Down’s Syndrome – and then I was captivated by her gorgeous expression. I think it is best described as a mixture of peacefulness, appreciation and wonderment. The unexpectedness of this clearly positive facial expression was enough to penetrate my grumpiness – and I became curious. As I turned to look in the direction of her gaze, I was overcome with those same feelings of peacefulness, appreciation and wonderment. There on the side of the road was a beautiful little marsh with trees and wildflowers growing all around it. There was a stream of sunlight trickling in through the branches illuminating the scene in the most extraordinary way. It was breathtaking. And it was right next to me. Available and accessible all along. And those feelings of peace and happiness-  available and accessible all along- if only I had chosen to pay attention. If only I had the intention to look and see. I had been making a choice about my experience, and what a relief it was to see that that was not the best that I could do.

And so I continue to be grateful for that little girl and that powerful lesson.

Teachers are everywhere if your intention is to learn. Everything is already right in front of you if your intention is to see.