Love. Joy. Peace. Integrity. Kindness.

Love. Joy. Peace. Integrity. Kindness.

With each step I kept repeating these words.

Love. Joy. Peace. Integrity. Kindness.

This was my. mantra as I left the centre of the labyrinth on a retreat recently, grounding those words into the earth under my feet, and the earth of my body.

I consciously set these intentions even as my ankles wobbled over the unlevel stones. Yes. Even then. There is safety for me knowing these values. There is ease as I connect to each one, with each step.

It has been an immense year of grand change.

Some of which has been very uncomfortable. Parts of it have been delightfully pleasurable. I know in the arch of my life they are all for my highest good, and I trust for the highest good of those around me. That might include you.

One recent change was probably the hardest. I'm not going to talk about here. But if you come to or interact with the clinic you'll know what it is. Probably even before arriving. You'll feel it. The change. Love. Joy. Peace. Integrity. Kindness. The deepest part of you will know.

Setting intentions creates outcomes. To be fair, outcomes will occur with or with out intentions. So. Consider. Why not set the intention with awareness, instead of just waiting for what the universe gives you?

I recently overheard a surgeon talking to several of his elderly patients after their hip replacements or knee surgeries. His intentions for them were so clear, and so kind.

He said all of the following things:

You're doing well.

You're looking great.

You're going to do really well. I know it.

I'm thrilled you quit smoking. That is really going to help your body heal.

Things on your X-ray are looking very good. You're going to do just fine.

I was there because of a strange conundrum in my medical history. A wacky thing that led to me creating an intention of how and who I wanted to be as a doctor - and this was over 20 years ago. You can read that story here on my Instagram page.

Especially with my delicate past with western medicine, I was so touched by him taking the time to reassure his patients. No one left with out a pat on the back.

Even if he was just saying it, he was making a difference.

You've heard of the Placebo effect, I'm sure?

pla·ce·bo
noun

a harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect.

There is a flip side to that. The Nocebo effect:

no·ce·bo
noun
a detrimental effect on health produced by psychological or psychosomatic factors such as negative expectations of treatment or prognosis.

Positive, or Negative, Intentions create outcomes.

Maybe not right away. But staying connected to your values allows the energy of those intentions to radiate out of our hearts, expand and manifest in physical form.

I connect with this intention several times per day in both my personal and my professional life.

Homework:

I advise finding 3-5 things/ideas/concepts that are everything to you. Slowly and surely, step by wobbly step, filter every choice through those values.

Is this choice going to help me feel Love? Joy? Peace? Kindness? Integrity?

Yes? Then I'm going to do it.

No? Then I'm leaving it at the centre of the Labyrinth.

Thank you for reading. I'm truly moved you're here. I'd love to know have you ever set an intention and it came to be? Tell me about it in the comments. Or let me know your guiding values. I'd love to know those too.

Here's to your healthy, thriving, delightful life,