What’s Intention?
intention
[ in-ten-shuhn ]
noun
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/intention
- an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.
- the end or object intended; purpose.
Now this is a fascinating word. Let’s explore it. Intention begins in the mind. It’s a determination focused on a specific goal. It’s the genesis of action and the purpose behind that action. Intention is the why behind every decision we choose to make.
When we intend to do something, we’re proactive, not passive. We have a specific goal and are gearing ourselves up internally to achieve it. It’s a pretty powerful concept, isn’t it?
Now here’s where it gets interesting. We can learn to send our intention and read another person’s intentions. Did I lose you yet? I know it can get pretty dense, so let’s sort it out together.
Giving And Sending Intention
Did you ever watch somebody walk into a room and immediately sense something was off? Did you suspect they were up to no good, even though you couldn’t see anything specifically suspicious about their behavior?
What about that “creepy guy” who was so quiet and kept to himself, who was a bit odd and off-putting – but still everyone was shocked when he committed unspeakable crimes? Usually, the neighbors or others in his life just shrugged off that sense. “Nah, I’m overreacting. He’s not that bad.” Now this dynamic often occurs with especially heinous criminals, but what about folks we meet in everyday life?
Can we sense when something is off about people? Do we dismiss our misgivings, or do we choose to tune in to, for lack of a better word, the vibes a person is putting out there? And what about us? What sort of messages are we sending? How do people perceive us?
Because in every moment, as we pass through our daily activities, we consciously or unconsciously send and receive messages.
Here’s a case in point. One morning my baby girl was fussing and fussing, and I couldn’t seem to calm her down. My little toddler could see me shaking my head, getting increasingly frustrated with the situation, though I wasn’t saying much. I finally set the baby in her swing and sat at the table, holding my head in my hands. That’s when I felt the light pat pat of a little hand on my head.”Mama, is your frustrate up? It’s okay, Mama.” My toddler felt what I was sending. She got my internal message and sought to comfort me. And she did. I sensed her concern, and it melted my heart.
Because in every moment, as we pass through our daily activities, we consciously or unconsciously send and receive messages.
But Is Intention Self-Defense? Short Answer: Yes.
So let’s put intention into a self-defense context. What if we could learn how to perceive a threat before the person in question could carry out their intent to harm us? What if we could send our intention back to them: “You will stop. You will not hurt me or anyone else here.” It’s a potent way to take control of a potentially volatile situation.
Just to clarify, by intention in self-defense, we’re not talking about anything mystical or magical. It’s not some weird voodoo we’re talking about here. It’s something we all experience in some form or another. It’s just a matter of awareness and learning how to use it to our benefit.
Developing our intention is linked to cultivating our warrior spirit and shouts through our battle cry, whether or not it’s vocalized. We carry our purpose to protect and defend. We emanate a heart of justice and keeping and maintaining the peace. We can help people sense we’re not to be messed with. And so much deeper than that, we care enough to intervene so lives are saved and evil doesn’t win.
At our core, we’ve determined we won’t be shaken. We will stand for what’s right and act wisely and well, whatever comes. This conviction blazes through our spirits through our intention.
Some Psychology And Why We Teach Intention
To stay safe these days, we need some basic protocols as we traverse our well-worn daily routines or venture into new adventures. One of these is reading people accurately. Let’s examine some ways to do that.
Consider this: only about 7 percent of our communication is through words alone. The rest? Body language and voice tone.
Now let’s dig a little deeper. The first step in reading people is pretty challenging. We must set aside our preconceived notions and perceive the person from a neutral standpoint. Kind of like zooming out and seeing from a distance. Dropping our emotional baggage helps us more clearly answer the question, “What’s really going on here?”
According to an article entitled “Three Techniques To Read People,” published in Psychology Today, those three techniques are: observing body language cues, listening to intuition, and sensing emotional energy. Let’s look at the last two.
When we listen to our intuition, we go with our gut, also known as our internal truth meter. That visceral response – good, bad, or indifferent – is worth noting and honoring. Can I trust this person? What does my gut say?
We also choose to note any flashes of insight we get while interacting with (or even just observing) them. Do we feel any intuitive empathy when with the person? Do we feel what they’re feeling? Do we feel uncomfortable or depressed though nothing has happened yet?
Now let’s get into the emotional energy part. We must learn how to sense a person’s presence to know if moving closer is okay or if we’d better back off. For example, are they presenting as friendly and open, but you’re getting the willies just being around them?
Look at their eyes. We explored the very real technique of using our eyes as a self-defense tool in THROW A LOOK BEFORE A PUNCH – YOUR GAZE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING . As the brain extends electromagnetic energy beyond the body, studies show the eyes do, too. So as we look into someone’s eyes, we can sense if they’re open or guarded. And we can govern ourselves accordingly.
We can also read a person’s energy through physical touch. Do you feel weird after someone shakes your hand? What about their voice? What’s the feel of the tone? Is it low and calm? High and shrill? Gentle? Forceful? Mean? Is their laugh forced, genuine, or mocking?
Melding these elements creates a powerful self-defense amalgam. And a useful tool in everyday interactions.
Now just so you know, learning to read another person’s intention is an advanced technique, and most of us don’t get it right away. But oh man, once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty powerful — an excellent tool for our ever-expanding toolkit.
The why comes down to this: the last thing we want is an attacker to take us by surprise and get the upper hand in a volatile situation. So we need to see it coming a mile off.
But What Does All This Have To Do With Me?
At first blush, all this seems like an almost academic exercise. But practically speaking, it comes down to whether or not you want to be prepared to face whatever comes, including detecting someone’s intention so you don’t get caught by surprise. We want to detect a threat early on to take charge of ourselves and the situation before it gets out of hand.
You could think of it this way. Imagine you have the opportunity to stand guard at the entrance to an elementary school. What sort of preparation would you want? What would you do to ensure those kids and you were safe from any and all predators? What kind of training would you seek out?
Now take that mentality to your family. Do you want to make sure they’re safe? What about when you’re out in public? Are you willing to be the one who stops injustice in its tracks?
These are hard questions. I know. I’ve asked them of myself. All of us here at Tigress’ Roar asked – and answered – some form of those questions. For us, the answer is yes. Will you also answer yes?
Realizing we need to learn how to read others’ intentions is one thing. Putting in the hard work consistently and over time is another. We understand not everyone is willing to prioritize self-defense training, but for those who do? Choosing to show up and keep training over time is life-changing. You will transform and evolve into the person you truly want to be: strong, courageous, and fearless. But only if you decide to.
The choice is yours. Our doors are open, and you’re always welcome here.
Join Us.
Resources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-freedom/201402/three-techniques-read-people