The Power of Intention: How Small Changes Can Shift Your Energy
It all started when I listened to Oprah read her foreword to the 25th anniversary edition of Gary Zukav’s The Seat of the Soul on Audible. Her voice—warm, animated, and full of that unmistakable Oprah energy—delivered a line that really got me thinking:
“Every action, thought, and feeling is motivated by an intention. And that intention is a cause that exists as one with an effect.”
Simple words. But hearing them said with such conviction opened something inside me.
Why Intention Matters
Mindfulness is about noticing what is. Whereas, intention is about shaping what will be. The two work together, but intention adds that “ooophm” I sometimes find missing in mindfulness alone.
For example, take an ordinary part of my morning: the shower.
When I asked myself, “Why am I showering?” the first answer that came to mind was: to look good, smell good, be presentable. Seemed innocent enough, but underneath there was something heavier—an insecurity that without these things, I was somehow less acceptable.
That subtle insecurity wasn’t just about hygiene; it crept into other parts of my life—people pleasing, quiet anxiety, and striving to “measure up.”
So I tried something different.
The Experiment
I set a new intention for my shower: to enjoy the feeling of water on my skin. That’s it. Nothing lofty, just a simple and specific intention.
Pretty instantly, I experienced a gentle shift in my energy. I felt lighter, I felt good. Even as I went through my day, I moved with more ease and things seemed to flow.
It may not happen every time I step into the shower, but with simple intentions, ordinary acts in our day turn into opportunities to experience more presence, calm, and even childlike joy - kind of like summer days as a kid when there was nothing to do but just enjoy being alive.
How to Bring This Into Your Day
The power of intention works great in the small, ordinary moments where we usually operate on autopilot. Try experimenting with one of these today:
Morning shower: instead of “getting clean,” set the intention to feel the water and let your muscles relax.
First sip of coffee or tea: try setting the intention to savor the flavor and warmth versus just fueling up.
Walking outside: instead of “getting somewhere,” how about notice one beautiful detail in your surroundings.
Responding to an email: “checking it off the list,” becomes communicate clearly and kindly.
Lighting a candle: can be about inviting calm to release stress, or creating space for creativity. In this way, the candle becomes a ritual for the energy you want to cultivate.
Going to bed: instead of “collapsing,” set the intention to thank your body for carrying you through the day.
Each time you shift the intention, the effect shifts too. One small change can open the door to more connection and joy — right in the middle of an ordinary day.
A Mini Challenge
The intention behind this post is simple: to help you feel good energetically by making little changes, starting today.
So here’s my challenge for you: pick one everyday habit and set a new intention behind it. See what changes for you. Notice the effect.
Because the more conscious we become about our intentions, the closer we move toward the life we actually want to create.