Excerpt from the book, "Choose Power"

Chapter 5, "The Power of Intention"

The Power of Intention builds on the Power of Attraction and
takes it to the next level. The Power of Intention requires more
effort than the Power of Attraction. Whether we are aware of our
thoughts or not, the Power of Attraction is in process. In contrast,
we need to deliberately form an image or goal to activate the
Power of Intention. Another way to describe the difference is that
the Power of Attraction might feel more passive, and the Power
of Intention is more of an active process.

This chapter begins with a story to demonstrate the difference
between the Power of Attraction and the Power of Intention.
Next, we will understand Creative Visualization and create a
Well-Formed Intention. The chapter ends with some ways to
practice the Power of Intention.

The Copy Machine that Would Not Work for Me

Although the Power of Attraction works whether you believe it
or not, the Power of Intention only works when you believe that
it works. This first story demonstrates the difference between the
two.

In one of my prior workplaces, there was a man who worked
well with equipment, whether it was computers and printers,
networks and cables, drills and bits, copy machines, and so on. I
was amazed at the way he successfully worked with equipment.
I had a problem with the copy machine. I was convinced that
it hated me because it would break down on me very often,
especially when I needed to copy both sides of handouts. The
machine would stop and the paper would get stuck in multiple
places inside, outside and all over the machine. I would go to this
man for help, and the machine would respond well for him every
time. It was amazing. Did he just have the right touch?

After this happened several times, I started watching how he
interacted with equipment more closely. Although he usually
swore like a sailor when he was around people, I watched him
stroking a computer or machine and talking lovingly to it. When
I asked him more about it, he admitted that he believed it was
important to talk nicely to equipment.

This surprised me, because this man didn’t believe in God,
being nice to people, or even eating well. However, he did believe
in sending out good energy to machines so that they would work
properly.

This is a great example of the Power of Intention. I was
exercising the Power of Attraction by expecting that the machine
would not cooperate with me, and so it did not. In contrast, he
was exercising the Power of Intention by intentionally directing
good energy to the machine.

In other words, the Power of Attraction works for everyone,
whether they believe in it or not. The Power of Intention is more
goal-oriented.

“Deciding Hard Enough”

Here is another example of using the Power of Intention.

One time when I was between jobs, and conserving my cash, I
heard that one of my favorite bands (originally from my hometown)
was coming to town. I decided really hard that I would win
tickets. My favorite radio station was giving them away all
weekend, and I knew I was going to win!

So, all weekend, I called in to the radio station at the specified
times. Finally, it was Sunday night and the concert was the next
night. The DJ said he had one last pair of tickets to give away to
the person who knew the answer to the question, “Where are the
Violent Femmes from?” Of course, I knew the answer! They are
from Milwaukee. I called in, I was the lucky caller, I knew the
answer, and I won the tickets! I believe it was a result of a strong
Power of Intention.

The story continues. In addition to winning tickets to the
show, from that day forward I continued to win tickets from that
radio station and other radio stations. I could not believe my
incredible luck, and neither could my closest friend at the time,
because she got to accompany me to a lot of great shows. I got to
see the Violent Femmes, Melissa Etheridge, Buddy Guy, Sheryl
Crow and many other great performers by being the lucky caller
and winning tickets from radio stations. I also won some leather
pants, tickets to theater performances and other prizes. It was so
exciting because I could continue to enjoy great live music and
other prizes without having to pay for them.

I enjoyed my good fortune for about six months. Then, I
started feeling guilty about winning so much. All of a sudden, I
lost my Golden Touch. I no longer had the magic.
Winning tickets to the first concert was a direct result of the
Power of Intention. The feelings of guilt and unworthiness that
came later stopped the Power, and stopped the good luck.

Whenever I have told this story to other people, I usually
explain that, “I decided really hard and it happened.”
Have you ever had that experience? Do you remember a time
in your life when you wanted something so bad
that it was as if you made it happen?

Or maybe you felt as if you were 100% certain that something
would occur in the future that you would have bet your life on it?
Then it turned out exactly as you knew it would. If you have
experienced something like that, then you know what I am talking
about.