Top Job Seeker Moods For Success: (3) Intention

“When you have clarity of intention, the universe conspires with you to make it happen” 
F. Fredrickson

While many do not agree with this quote, I have to admit that I am a believer in the power of intention. Read along and let me know what you think.

​Before I move on, here is a quote that casts doubt on the value of intention:

“It’s not intentions that matter. It’s actions. We are what we do and say, and not what we intend to do”
​K. Hannah

I confess that I am also a believer in the power of action. So, where does this leave us? Somewhere in between? I am seeking a quote that balances intention with action. Please share it if you know it. As I await your quotes, I thought I would start by defining the keywords, namely intention and action.

Intention

A recent study defines intention as “a reliable predictor of planned behavior in a variety of situations”. This confirms that once you intend to accomplish an activity, you start planning for it and eventually you will do it. For example, if you decide that you are not currently happy in your job, you start looking for a new opportunity. You may even update your resume, reach out to your network or apply for jobs. ​

Action

One academic definition of action is ‘willed and automatic control of behaviour’. Oxford Languages defines it as ‘the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim’. This definition works for career action since you are looking to ‘do something’ to get a job, transition to a new opportunity or define a career path.

Intend to Act

Once you unravel and accept the action of ‘looking’, awareness of the cruciality of understanding your intentions kicks in. If you find that you cannot identify your intentions, recent research looks at intention as a “state of mind” that directs your focus, abilities and activities. To the outside world, your actions clarify your intentions and so indirectly, your intentions can potentially be shaped by your culture. Spending some time building an awareness of the value of your intentions will lead you to your successful path.
This is what you need to acknowledge as you untangle your next career move. Your newfound awareness will help you define your intentions as to the type of employment you want to seek. These intentions will be the base for the goals you create for yourself. What is more important is that your goals will lead to a willed and automatic control of your future. 
You have a lifetime to define your intentions but remember that you also need to outline your goals and actions for these intentions to become a reality. Go on...Define your intentions!

Intention and Action

As I continue to search for data and quotes that couple action with intention, I opted to write my own quote on the topic. Here is a quote for you to reflect on:

There is no action without intention!
​Dr. Hoda

Let me know what you think!