In Pema Chodron's book "Comfortable with Uncertainty", she writes, "We can try to control the uncontrollable by looking for security and predictability, always hoping to be comfortable and safe. But the truth is we can never avoid uncertainty. This not-knowing is part of the adventure." Accepting uncertainty is one of the greatest challenges in life.

Things change little by little every day, yet sometimes we hardly realize it. Other times change hits us over the head like a ton of bricks. We feel paralyzed and can hardly move. In the face of this uncertainty, many people adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms. We have a tendency to build walls around ourselves, locking in what we are comfortable with and blocking out what seems to difficult. As always, the fear of change is often worse than the actual change itself.

When you believe that the universe is a friendly place and that there are no such things as coincidences, uncertainty is not an enormous hurdle. It becomes a fact of life, like eating, sleeping, traffic, and so on. You've probably heard the saying, "Let go, let God." This saying speaks precisely to accepting uncertainty. The first step is accepting and understanding that uncertainty is a part of life. The solution to any problem begins with understanding and accepting the reality of your current situation without judgment. As a life coach I have found that when you judge a situation, you take away the opportunity for positive change.

In her book, Pema Chodron poses this question on the importance of accepting life's uncertainties, "Do I prefer to grow up and relate to life directly, or do I choose to live and die in fear?" So not only is accepting uncertainty a sign of maturity, but it is something we do from a place of love, rather than fear. Without even realizing, many people stop welcoming life's uncertainties. Their lives lose flavor and meaning. On the other hand, waking up each morning with a smile and thinking that each day is a magical surprise will spice up your reality and give everything you do a greater purpose.

"A warrior accepts that we can never know what will happen to us next." -Pema Chodron

The power of intention can change your life. Every action, every behavior is grounded in intention, whether or not you are consciously aware of it. As a personal life coach, let me share with you how the power of intention is important to your personal success and how you can take charge of your future with a few simple changes in your thinking.

The Intention Cycle

Your intention determines what you focus on. What you focus on determines how you will experience any given situation. The way you experience things then determines how you feel. Of course, the better you feel about yourself and what is possible, the more confident you will become in yourself and the brighter your future will begin to look. The better you feel, the more compelled you will be to take action. You can think of this as a cycle with the following components: Intention, focus, experience, feeling and action.

Setting Your Intent

Harnessing the power of intention begins with setting your intent. Perhaps you want to have a better job, more money, or a more fulfilling relationship? It all starts with setting your intention. Setting your intent is about directing your focus in the present moment toward a future outcome. It is about making conscious and committed decisions to attract certain experiences and outcomes in your life, even when you aren't sure when or how they will manifest. “Intention” is not so much something you do--it is more about the kind of experiences you attract by consciously focusing on what you want. Once you set your intent, it will affect how you behave, your communication, your mood, and even how you respond to life.

Once you have set your intention, your mind will start searching for ways to experience what you want. It will go to work figuring out how it can create these kinds of experiences. For example, if you have an important meeting coming up, sit down and write down your intentions for it. Perhaps it's important to have fun, be productive, connect with others, feel peace, or be helpful. You'll notice your meeting is more likely to manifest how you like when your intent is set on it. Carry these intentions in your mind everywhere you go and be attentive to your surroundings. Look for synchronicity as the right opportunities will suddenly present themselves!

The power of intention can change your life. Your intention determines what you focus on - both positive and negative - and what you focus on determines how you will experience any given situation. Choose your intentions wisely.