Chopra on Intent

Having an intention is enough to accomplish a result.

When properly focused

–which means easily and without strain–

Awareness has the ability to carry out quite specific commands.

An intention doesn’t have to be a verbally expressed thought;

In fact, our deepest intentions are body-centered.
Our most fundamental needs–

For love, understanding, encouragement, and support–

Permeate every cell.

The desires that arise in your mind

Are often clouded by ego motives,

Which are not true needs;

People get caught up in the pursuit of money,

Career goals, and political ambitions in ways

That are disconnected from the fundamental need

For comfort and well-being

That every healthy organism must fulfill.

Many of us are so alienated from our basic needs,

So programmed to run after what the ego wants,

That we have to relearn the basic mechanics

Of how attention and intention actually work.

There are many ways to get fulfillment besides

The outward-orientated ones our culture teaches us.

The most valuable lesson in this regard is that

Intentions automatically seek their fulfillment

If left alone.

Every cell in your body is seeking fulfillment

Through joy, beauty, love, and appreciation.

This is hard to realize when the mind sets up

Its own separate agenda for fulfilling other kinds of desires,

Ones that are loveless, without joy or satisfaction.

Yet millions of people have programmed themselves

To reach only such goals.
The ability to direct your awareness is critical

If you want to change the deep-rooted patterns of aging,

For aging itself is an intention that your cells

Are obeying without your control.

Every intention is a trigger for transformation.

As soon as you decide that you want something,

Your nervous system responds

To reach your desired goal.

This holds true for simple intentions

As well as for complex intentions