I am very grateful to all who responded. I was concerned that my posts might have landed in your junk mail. Now I am inspired again to write more.

I wish you well as we go through these challenging times. I know you can do it.

See you again soon,

Love, Marie

Dear Thoughtful Perspectives reader,

I am trying to see how many are actually receiving the blogs I send out. You can let me know in two possible ways. You can email me. marieknapp@rogers.com. Or you can comment below on this site.

Thanks so much. I appreciate your help.

Marie Knapp

Owen Sound, ON

In the past I have written several articles related to the power of our thoughts and working with intentions. Given the circumstances we are all living with in this pandemic crisis, I would like to share some of those articles with you again. In this first week in January, perhaps a good topic to begin with is “Intentions”. The following article applies as well today as when I originally wrote it.

Intentions

Did you know that even the healthiest and highest functioning people sometimes feel less confident, and sometimes want to quit everything.  But they don’t linger there and let those thoughts fester. That’s why I want to share how to work with intentions.  I want to give you some means to build your stamina and wellbeing. 

You are more vulnerable given what you have been through recently. This means that you have to pay more attention to making new and constructive thoughts that represent what is achievable for you today.  I call these ideas intentions.  They are a bit like goals and a lot like affirmations.

Sometimes committing to intentions forever just seems impossible.  So step one is to say an intention just for today.  This makes it more achievable even though you will likely set the same intention for tomorrow.

It is important to word the intention in the present tense. It is strengthened by starting it with “I am”.  And of course they should only be positive in their meaning.  For example “I am not going to get angry” is a negative statement.  And so is “I am less stressed”.  Instead you might say “I am calm.”  “I notice when I start to feel angry”  “I see things from a variety of perspectives.”

You can create intentions about a healthy lifestyle.  For example “I am making healthy food choices today” And “I am walking outside for at least 15 minutes”.

Intentions may also be feelings and qualities.  You may wish to say something like “I am calm and confident” and “I am a capable person”.  Or “I am a good person.”

Sometimes our intentions need to be modified to make them believable.  For example you might say “I am feeling more confident today” or “I am learning about healthy eating today”

You may need some help forming your intentions especially at first.  Say them frequently; write them on a note and leave them where you can see them like the dashboard, or your wallet or purse or your bathroom mirror. 

Review your intentions every week as you may wish to strengthen them or modify them to suit your progress.  Say your intentions first thing in the morning and later in the day as needed.  Let them help you build your wellbeing.

I hope you find this meaningful. My experience with intentions has helped me recognize that it is in actually feeling the intention within your whole self that makes it much more effective. Embody the intention. feel it within you. Be it.  

Perhaps this serves as a reminder for you. Intentions are not new. But today is a new day. Take time and live you intention for today.

What is you experience with intentions today? How do you notice the change within you?

Marie Knapp

marieknapp@rogers.com

Occasionally I “pick a card” from a deck of inspiring cards to give me something to consider or notice in my day. The other day I picked a card inviting me to simplify my life. How timely! I have been contemplating the significance of simplifying both in its action and the potential results. It seems I have more time than usual to work on this. What does it mean to simplify?

To unclutter? To reduce in volume or in tasks or in thoughts and mind chatter? or in decision making? or?? Maybe it means I could stop taking responsibility for others and let go of any need to fix other people’s lives. Maybe it means I could let go of old stuff, meaning regrets and angers and unsolved problems when the problem is now gone. Simplifying may not be easy. Must it be this complicated? Perhaps it means to just stop and take a quiet breath and just be.

How are you interpreting it? This could be an interesting project for this long quiet lonely winter. Your comments are welcome.

Till next time,

Marie

Perhaps everything that needs to be said has already been said. At least for now. Once again the urge to stay connected but to simplify life has crept into my desire to maintain a presence of some kind in the world.

I retired my business. This time I am not trying to sell anything, or urge you, the reader, to participate in anything in particular.  I simply wish to stay connected with people who are contemplating life. For me it has become a time of reflection — maybe due to the Covid restrictions we need to adhere to, or maybe it is my age, or it could be that there are so many grave issues in the world that reflection often feels like all I can do to live it through, to stay or get inspired.

I would love to get some dialogue going.  Perhaps people will comment and respond.   Let’s not force anything but just see what unfolds.  Let’s connect.