Authors, Draw an Arrow from the Quiver of Your Heart: Setting Intentions
19 of 28 big ideas from the world of coaching to grow your author business
The nineteenth in a 28-part series on 28 big ideas from coaching for authors to coach themselves, adapted from my book, The Coach Within.
“Our intention creates our reality.”
— Wayne Dyer
“Setting your intention is like drawing an arrow from the quiver of your heart.”
— Bruce Black
In casual parlance, intending to do something is very iffy. It has an I’d like to…but quality. There’s a maybe I’ll get around to it implied. Let’s call this — at best — having an intention.
In coaching, we set intentions and it’s serious business. The intention a client sets is something she or he means to bring about, something important. One sets the destination and heads off in that direction.
What sort of intention can you set?
It can be specific, like a goal (I intend to finish my manuscript by the end of June)…
or broad, as a new attitude or mindset might be (I intend to keep a positive attitude towards book maketing).
It can be little (I intend to get that email newsletter out this afternoon)…
or big (I intend to sell 5,000 books this year).
It can be short-term (I intend to book five events this summer)…
or long-term (I intend to transition to full-time author life within three years).
Do you recall in the idealizing article (big idea 16), how you could idealize before any situation to improve upon its outcome?
Setting intentions can work the same way:
Before getting out of bed in the morning: I intend not to rush today. I intend to slow down, stay centered, and take one thing at a time, focusing on quality and properly accomplishing the task at hand.
Upon sitting down to write: I intend to finish writing the first draft of one chapter and review/edit two earlier chapters in this morning’s work session.
Before doing the day’s marketing and sales work: I intend to do 5 things from my running list to promote my books today, focusing on making sales phone calls I’ve been avoiding by thinking of them simply as conversations.
Before bed: I intend to get a good night’s rest and wake up refreshed with some new solutions for places I’m stuck in my writing.
Like idealizing, intentions don’t guarantee outcomes, but they go a long way to guiding better results into existence. In today’s homework, you’ll work through a very step-by-step process for setting your key intentions.
Coaching Yourself In Action
⎕ To understand how multifaceted this concept is, and feel the full gravity of setting a critical intention, work through this list two or three times (using your journal and silent reflection as needed) to set intentions.
Idealize (see above). What is it that you most want? What is your ideal outcome?
Cultivate. Nourish your budding intention. Give it love and attention. What kind of support does it need?
Create. Apply creativity (big idea 2) to bring your intention more fully to life.
Focus. Clarify your intention with positive, specific language.
Decide. Formally set your choice as an intention. (Picture a setting Jell-O mold.)
Commit. Solidify your choice by committing to it. (Now picture concrete setting.)
Be not do (big idea 14). Be with your intention first. Let inspiration from that place dictate your doing.
Do something. Inspired by your intention, take an immediate step that demonstrates your commitment to it.
Hold yourself accountable (big idea 9). The accountability article has lots of ways to do that.
Write your intention down and post it in a place you’ll see it often.
Say your intention to yourself and remind yourself of it often.
Let belief and trust in your intention allow you to detach from it.
Do You have Serious Intentions to Meet Your Author Goals?
Are you curious about how you can work on and meet your author goals with just one or two coaching sessions a month? And, stay relaxed, productive, and generating new income and new experiences? All while meeting the other obligations of life?
Great! I know just how to help.
Learn more about author coaching with me here.
Learn about the 80 positive outcomes of coaching proven by research.
Sign up for your free 30-minute, no-strings, no-pressure call to discuss your author challenges and goals.
That’s it! You’re on your way.