Setting an Intention
By Tess Haranda
Photo by Cassie Quinn
INTENTION is bringing a plan and a focus to your action , where you have a direction and determination and not simply an outcome in mind . Do you have a plan for each time you practice ? Maybe your practice is well-scheduled and defined , but is there an over-arching theme to infuse the time with ? Do you choose what you and the audience will come away with after your performance ? You could say setting an intention is like understanding the theme of a literary text .
In a literary text , you have a plot , which is the action moving from the beginning to the middle to the end of a story . Plot is like a schedule for your rehearsal time or the choreography you perform . The theme of a story is the larger message or meaning that might also be applicable to other stories . In life , that is intention . Your intention is a larger purpose of meaning for your actions .
Your intention doesn ’ t have to be a huge accomplishment or long-term goal , but a focus during a short period . If I notice that my attention has been on my day and things outside dance , my intention could be as simple as staying present during that rehearsal . Maybe my attention to the finer details of a choreography is missing . Maybe I tend to rush through the end of a move in an attempt to start the next move ( Isis , I ’ m still working on this ! < 3 ). For the day ’ s rehearsal , I consciously set my intention and focus , and the intention will apply to all of the activities .
Granted , intentions are not goals . A goal is tied to the results and outcome , but an intention is tied to the mental direction for activities , regardless of outcome . Intention is holding a space for your purpose without an expectation of success or failure . Allow your intention to wash over the rehearsal or the performance , but don ’ t judge the outcome . It will add a beautiful and powerful layer to your dance .
TESS HARANDA
Tess Haranda is a life coach , mom , writer , and teacher . Learn more at www . successwithtess . com .
Photo by Kaitlyn Haranda
74 The Belly Dance Chronicles � July 2017