How Setting Your Intention Determines your Neural Retraining Outcome

I’ve been having a lot of conversations recently from people feeling stuck in their retraining practice, so today I want to talk about one of the most important keys of getting out of stuckness, and getting back to moving forward in your neural retraining practice.

And that key is…setting your intention. Setting an intention in your neural retraining program refers to the act of consciously determining what you want to focus on during your practice.

Intention-setting can be such a powerful tool because it helps you to create a clear sense of purpose and direction for your practice. By setting an intention, you are essentially creating a roadmap for where you want your mind to go during your practice, and this can help you to stay focused and engaged in the present moment.

While setting an intention can be a powerful tool for enhancing focus and achieving goals, it can also trigger stress and resistance in certain situations. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Unrealistic Expectations: When we set overly ambitious or unrealistic intentions, we may put ourselves under undue stress and pressure to achieve them. This can especially happen when we have an attachment to the outcome of our practice. For example when we go into our practice with an intention of reaching a specific goal (like getting rid of my pain, fixing my fatigue, or the need to change my sleep) we just add pressure to the limbic system which keeps it triggered. This added pressure can cause even more stress and the increase of symptoms. This can lead to feelings of frustration, disappointment, and even failure if we’re not able to meet our expectations.
2. Fear of Failure: Sometimes, setting an intention can trigger our fear of failure, especially if we’ve unsuccessfully attempted this intention in the past. If we’re worried about not being able to achieve our intention, we may feel anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. This can lead to resistance and avoidance of the task or goal altogether.
3. Lack of Clarity: If we are not clear about our intention or goal, it can be difficult to stay focused and motivated. This lack of clarity can cause stress and confusion, making it harder to take action and achieve our desired outcomes.
4. External Pressures: Sometimes, we may feel pressured by external factors, such as social expectations or deadlines, to set a certain intention or achieve a certain goal. This can lead to stress and resistance if the intention does not align with our own values, desires, or abilities.

When we approach neural retraining with a rigid, goal-oriented mindset, we may find that we become frustrated or discouraged when we don’t achieve the results we’re looking for. This can create a sense of resistance that can make it difficult to stay present and focused during our practice, and keep us stuck in a limbic loop with no apparent way out.

In order to avoid triggering stress and resistance when setting an intention, it’s important to be realistic, clear, and authentic in our intention-setting process. 

We can do this by setting intentions that align with our values and desires, breaking down larger goals into smaller, achievable steps, and focusing on progress rather than perfection. 

Additionally, acknowledging that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the process can help us to stay motivated and avoid unnecessary stress and resistance. This is where practicing self-compassion (see Self-Compassion as a Path to Healing) can be helpful. Remember it takes time and practice to create your unique neural retraining practice, so be patient with yourself as you work through any resistance that arises.

It can also be helpful to approach intention-setting with a sense of curiosity and openness, rather than a rigid or fixed mindset. Rather than trying to force ourselves to achieve a particular goal, we can simply observe our thoughts and feelings as they arise during our practice, without judgment or expectation.

By approaching our neural retraining practice with a sense of curiosity and openness, we can cultivate a greater sense of presence and awareness. This allows the limbic system to relax, the mind to be at peace, and the body’s energy to focus on rest and healing.

I’d love to hear from you about how you set intentions in your neural retraining program and how you use intentions as a roadmap for your practice. I find that this is a very valuable tool in moving forward toward the goals that we have.

And I do have a few openings for new clients in my schedule. If you’ve considered one-on-one coaching, I’d love to be able to meet with you to talk about how I can support you. I offer a free no-pressure 30 minute Zoom (or phone) discovery session here. I’d love to connect!