At a recent workshop, the leader made the following comment when someone complained about feeling stuck in a particular situation: “Outcome always follows purpose, so what’s your purpose in being stuck?” That got me to thinking about how to use this idea without getting into self-judgment or self-blame. What if it’s just a statement of fact, rather than any kind of judgment?

To play with the idea that “outcome follows purpose,” that our intentions generate the flow that then takes us through our daily experience, what would it be like to become more conscious of the outcomes/intentions you hold – consciously and deliberately, or outside your immediate conscious awareness? For example, if you find yourself constantly engaging in arguments with people you encounter during the day, or if you experience yourself consistently blocked in achieving a particular outcome you seek, what would happen if you were curious about the underlying purpose or intention you carry into these situations? If you feel time pressed, as I often do, what might you be trying to teach yourself about your relationship with time? (I’m exploring this at present and will have more to say about time in upcoming experiments.)

If you have trouble imagining what your purpose might be that cause you to feel stuck or otherwise distressed, you might try the following. When I find I’m unable to achieve something I think I want, I usually look for fear of some kind at the foundation of my dilemma. While a specific purpose/intention that holds you back might not emerge from fear, it’s a great place to start because so much of what most of us deal with has its origins in some kind of worry or concern.

For this week’s experiment, then, I invite you to look at an area of your life where things aren’t going as you’d like. Take some time to feel into what’s at the foundation of the issue, into the possible self-protective function of your situation. Please be sure to do this without self-judgment. It’s an exercise in curiosity about something that is completely human and that we all do automatically. In fact, it’s because this kind of experience is so automatic that we need to slow down enough and see where we seem to be a cross purposes with ourselves. The urge for self-protection is hard-wired into us, so it’s important to recognize that this journey isn’t one of self-blame. It’s about becoming more conscious of those areas where we may want to make different choices. And so, this is an opportunity to raise your own awareness about whatever issue you want and to bring it into consciousness so you can choose to change it if you want to do so. If you discover the underlying issue and decide to shift your intention around it, then notice what happens as you reinforce your new purpose. Then, have fun watching new outcomes emerge spontaneously.