What is the Purpose of Intention?

Understanding the biggest difference between those who succeed and those who don’t lies in understanding the power of intention.

We all want many things. We desire, dream, and imagine. Yet, very few of us experience the satisfaction of actually reaching what we desire, living the life we envision, or achieving our goals. Many lives around us seem to be in constant pursuit of happiness, lacking fulfillment, and destined to leave this world with unfinished dreams. While this topic can be quite complex depending on the nature of what we want and who we are, one of the fundamental forces behind all desires and achievements is the decision we call “intention.”

Intention is, in essence, the decision to act. We may imagine, dream, envision, and want many things, but only those we “intend” to pursue have a chance of becoming reality. Not always, of course, but the first step in turning dreams into reality is inevitably intention. Intention sets us in motion, helps us leave behind other dreams or possibilities, and defines our direction. The action that intention triggers is what we call effort. Effort means taking steps toward the goal in our mind, striving to change conditions, and adapting everything that doesn’t align with our intended target. Effort is like the bulldozer that clears away the initial obstacles, laying the groundwork in the dense forest of challenges.

Effort born from intention also gives rise to courage when the time comes to overcome obstacles. Courage allows us to take risks and do what hasn’t been done before, and effort prepares the ground for courage. In summary, the trio of intention, effort, and courage represents our ability to accomplish things beyond the capacity of other creatures.

I often say, “etymology saves lives,” from my own experience. The roots of words give us fascinating insights into how our language and mind work, and sometimes these roots reveal that we may be searching for what we’ve lost in the wrong places. For example, if we look at the root of the Turkish term for “motivation” — azim — we find that it means “to head toward a goal with determination.” This means that the source of motivation or persistence is the decision we call “intention.” If, on our path of great effort, we find obstacles that quickly discourage us, our motivation may waver, and our determination may fade. In such moments, revisiting the foundation — our intention — can be a refreshing boost.

If we can ask ourselves the right questions and distinguish between dreams, desires, and “intention,” our motivation or determination issues will resolve themselves naturally.

I think it’s worth a try!