Choose a direction, name the next step, and make it easier to begin—a practical companion to The Keys in Open Enlightenment.
What is an intention?
An intention is a direction you choose to bring into your actions. It may describe a quality, such as patience or honesty, or a purpose, such as making room for creative work. It becomes practical when you connect it with something you can do.
Page 2 of Open Enlightenment brings intention and action together in The Keys. The Universal Laws section develops the relationship further: intention chooses a path, and action gives that direction a place in everyday life.
Turn an intention into one clear action
- Name what matters. Ask what quality you want to bring to a situation and why it matters to you. Choose words you understand and can return to.
- Choose your part. Identify something within your participation: what you say, how you listen, what you begin, or where you set a boundary.
- Make the action specific. Write what you will do and when there is a realistic opportunity to do it. A short, observable action gives you a clear place to start.
- Make room for it. Prepare the conditions that help: set out a notebook, choose a time, clear a small space, or remove one distraction.
- Notice what happens. Afterward, look at what supported the action and what made it difficult. Use that information to choose the next attempt.
A sentence to write in your notebook
Today I intend to bring [quality] to [situation]. When [opportunity] arrives, I will [one action].
Choose an action that fits the day you actually have. “Spend ten minutes with my sketchbook after lunch” gives a creative intention a clear beginning. You can adjust the time or the action as you learn what works.
Three everyday examples
Intention: bring patience to a conversation
Action: During an evening conversation, let the other person finish, then ask one question before offering your own view.
Make it easier: Put the phone aside and begin when you have a little time to listen.
Reflect: When was listening easier? What pulled your attention away?
Intention: make room for creativity
Action: After lunch, spend ten minutes writing, sketching, or working on one small part of a project.
Make it easier: Leave the materials ready and decide where to begin before the session.
Reflect: What helped you start? What would you like to return to next time?
Intention: bring care to a commitment
Action: Before accepting a new task, check the time and energy available. Give a clear answer about what you can realistically do.
Make it easier: Keep your existing commitments somewhere you can review them.
Reflect: Did your answer respect both your capacity and the other person’s need for clarity?
Review the practice and begin again
At the end of the day, ask three questions: What did I choose? What did I actually do? What did I learn? You can acknowledge an effort that was useful and adjust a step that was too large, vague, or difficult to begin.
The book’s Law of Efficiency adds a practical question: what would make the next aligned action easier to reach? A prepared workspace, a shorter task, or a more realistic time may give the intention a better opportunity.
Life includes other people’s choices and circumstances you cannot arrange. Keep your review centered on your participation and the information available now. That leaves room for responsibility, flexibility, and compassion.
Common questions
How is an intention different from a goal?
A goal usually names an outcome you want to reach. An intention can name how you want to participate along the way. A finished drawing might be the goal; approaching each session with curiosity could be the intention.
What if I do not follow through?
Review the conditions before judging yourself. Was the action clear? Was there time for it? Could it be smaller? Choose one adjustment and another opportunity to begin.
Can I use this with meditation?
Yes. You might intend to meet a short session with patience, then practice returning attention gently when it wanders. The quiet-mind guide provides a simple starting exercise.
To see how Intention, Action, Repetition, and Efficiency connect within the larger framework, explore the 13 Universal Laws overview.
Based on Open Enlightenment by Rev. Shawn Sullivan, September 2026 book edition. These guides offer new summaries and practice examples alongside the original Illuminated Pages.