Often times when life gets hectic we begin to lose touch with ourselves and get caught up in our responsibilities, leaving us feeling like we're just going through the motions. When there's a million and one things on our mind, the most important thing seems to disappear: the intention. Everything we do is for a reason, and we make conscious choices to perform actions based on intention. We work out because we want to look and feel good, go to class because we want an education, and decide to drive because it's faster than walking. Even if we don't realize it, there is an intention behind each and every action we choose to perform. More importantly, our lives seem to move wherever our intention is focused, so action and intention work nearly hand in hand. If we intend to bring light into our lives, then we will focus our actions on working towards that goal but if our intention is negative, our life will move in a more negative direction. Let me explain the power of intention..

I first started practicing yoga at the ripe age of ten. Though I was lucky to enter the practice so young, the concept behind the practice is probably better understood at an older age. Each time I come to my mat, it's for a different reason but lately that reason has been consistent: to become a better me. This is my intention, and it keeps me grounded during my practice when things start to get tough. I realize that regardless of how well I'm doing or feeling, I made it to the mat and event that is a step towards becoming a better me. Luckily enough my yoga practice has begun to transfer to real-life, allowing me to power through and stay rooted even when everything gets chaotic.

Start by deciding what you want most from life at this point in time. It could be anything from success to love to connectedness, the possibilities are endless and very subjective. Think about your intention every day and set mini-intentions to keep yourself and your goals in check. You attract the energy you put out, so make sure you're focused on something that matters to you. Practicing intention and positive self-talk changes your perspective and allows you to handle with stressful situations in a more effective way. Try it for yourself and you'll (hopefully) start to see the power of intention.