Pregnancy Intention, Part 1

“The universe backs the part of you that is of clearest intention.” Gary Zukav

 

The Oxford dictionary says- 

Intention: noun. a thing intended; an aim or plan.

Intent: noun.  intention or purpose.

 

So I will use ‘Intent” and “intention” interchangeably. 

 

A synonym of intention is ‘desire’. For our purposes, intention means something that you are wanting and choosing. We will play with intention as a tool to invite in, to open the door for. Intention is a way to state what it is you want, and a way to receive it.

 

In relation to the Journey of motherhood, intention is not a plan. It is not a goal. It is not a pursuit of something, but an invitation to and a focus on. It is a tone, a clarity of purpose. 

For many of us, we are often living with these inner desires left unaddressed, unsaid, unthought, unfaced. That means we are living unintentionally, even accidentally. Hoping for the best, of course, but not truly examining or allowing ourselves to dream. And thereby blocking possible sources of inspiration, resources, or actions.

 

The whole point of a conscious, aware, attentive pregnancy and parenting is to be intentional. It’s kind of the point. 

 

This is an excellent time in the pregnancy for setting intent. First trimester winter-like slow energy has blossomed into second trimester energy of spring as your baby and your body grows and changes. You may be feeling better physically/energetically, or at least more stable in the reality of this pregnancy.

 

For this week, start the process of setting an intention for this pregnancy. We will use this process again later to set an intention for the birth, for the postpartum period, and for motherhood and beyond. At this time, make this intention about you and your pregnancy. 

 

Practice - Curiosity Breathing

The practice for this week will be a curiosity breathing practice. This is very useful as a relaxation technique, as well as a shift to being the observer. I'd like you to bring this sense of genuine curiosity into your writing exercises, exploring without censoring or judging yourself. Curiosity is a tone of welcoming and discovery that is invaluable in mindfulness, motherhood, and beyond. 

You can do this practice daily, or whenever you feel like it as a short reset meditation.

 

Journalling part 1 

Before starting in with any writing around this topic, I would like you to first start with a few minutes to quiet and center yourself. This is not a vague thing; this is actually the pathway that we have been talking about the last 2 weeks: establishing safety. If you are feeling stressed, rushed, busy, trying to squeeze this in as something you "should" do - you are coming from fear, from a mild reactive state of "fight".

Although this journalling may be on your list of things to do, HOW you do it matters immensely. We want the nervous system safety to set the tone of love and peace and allow that to trickle in and through our lives, especially with what is important to us.

 

So, I encourage you to do what works for you to calm yourself. This week's 'curiosity breathing' might be helpful, or another meditation that you like.

 

Alternatively, here's a quick cheat sheet:

 

• Breathe. Take 3-10 deep breaths. Not deep as in BIG, but deep as in low down, reaching way down into your belly, relaxing enough to allow your diaphragm to move.

• Sound. Try making sounds on the exhale to more fully release and relax. Audible sighs, hums, vuuuu, shhhhh, haaaa; something that sounds and feels soothing that focuses your attention on the exhale and the letting go.

• Move. Can you drop your shoulders? Do some gentle neck rolls? Rock yourself around in your seat, feeling your pelvis making contact with where you are sitting. Or do some bigger stretches or shaking, the key is whatever feels good.

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When you are feeling somewhat calm or calmer  in your body/mind, that is a good time to start writing and self inquiry.

Let's begin.

 

*What is my intent for this phase of my Journey?*

Open to a new spread in your pregnancy journal. On the left hand side, write a heading: Possible Intents. List possible intents. Don’t hold back, really let it rip. No need to choose one now. This is a brainstorming session. You could keep this list going for a few days or all week, adding to it whenever something comes to mind. When you get to the bottom of the page, if you have more, turn to a new spread, again using the left hand side for possible intents.

 

If you are feeling blank or unsure, take some more calming breaths and accept that. It is OK and normal to not know what you want and naming it; we're not encouraged and taught to do this! After accepting, try freewriting answers to the following on a separate page:

 

• what is most important to me in this pregnancy right now?

• what do I need now?

• what do I wish I had more of?

• what would feel amazing to look back on and remember about this pregnancy?

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Sample intentions:

To greet each day with joy

To honor my body and rest deeply as much as I can

To be as healthy and happy as possible and support a healthy happy baby

To balance work and home life gracefully

To ask for help when I need it

To create positive energy every day

To savor feeling beautiful as my baby and belly expands

To be truly present

To eat well and move well for vibrant health

To live with more love and less stress

 

You’re looking for a feeling that you can put into a phrase, a word, or a sentence that is a possible intention. 

 

Journaling part 2

Read over your list throughout the week, or whenever you get a chance. 

On the right hand side of the spread, across from your possible intents, make a heading: Observations. List notes and observations. 

Again, take a moment before starting to refine HOW you are doing the journaling. It will be helpful to use the sense of curious exploration that you practiced in this week's exercise.

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In your body: Feel that calm, grounded, open feeling, and inquire from there. Breathe, sound, move, or do what works for you to soothe your nervous system. Even if you don't feel totally calm, which is totally normal and OK, just embody how your body breathes and moves when it is calm, and that will nudge your system in the direction of safety.

In your mind: Try a little zen beginner mind, not knowing what you will find, and being open to whatever it is. "Hmmmm, what's really here?"

 

With this whole-being-openness, you are able to actually learn more about yourself, from a place within yourself that is peaceful, unconditionally loving, and accepting.

 

For the observations of your possible intents, consider:

 

• Are there SHOULDS in there?

• How do the intents feel when you read them? (maybe close your eyes for a second) Pay attention to a tingly or alive response in your body.

• Does your mind have a lot to say about some of them? About whether they are possible, or big enough, or right? [this isn’t good or bad, it is normal. You are simply accepting and observing all that shows up].

• Are there stories or worries that want to be told/vented/explored?

• Do you feel drawn to some of the possible intents more than others?

• Freewrite to get relief and clarity if emotions or interesting things come up, or as you desire. Treat everything you find as a clue and a gift.

• (extra) And as you remember, continue to find and jot down a few things you are grateful for on a separate page in your journal. Look for the good!

 

 

That's it for now, we'll continue the intention process next week!

 

Be well and be you,

Anna