Hello, all,
hope this finds you well.
According to this year’s list, the topic for January is Intention.
Some definitions of ‘intention’:
1. The act or fact of intending; determination to do a specified thing or act in a specified manner.
2. A determination or plan to do a specific thing.
3. A course of action that a person intends to follow.
4. (philos.) The direction or orientation of the mind toward an object.
Synonyms of intention: purpose, aim, impulsion, intent, end, plan, design
There is an old saying:”The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The meaning and origin of this phrase is discussed here (https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/the-road-to-hell-is-paved-with-good-intentions.html), and we are informed that the original phrase was simply “hell is full of good intentions”.
Ewan Morrison, in an article in Psychology Today(https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/word-less/201904/the-road-hell-is-paved-good-intentions), reminds us of the quote from the economist Adam Smith,”…interventions in complex systems tend to create undesirable outcomes.” Morrison goes on to point out that ambitious leaders planning to do good have often done the opposite. A classic example is Chairman Mao’s Four Pest Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojOmUWLDG18), where he marshaled the peasants to destroy the pests thought most responsible for attacking Chinese crops.
How often do we think through our actions related to our intentions? How often do we truly consider our intentions, instead of following along with what seems a good idea?
It will be great to see each other again, if only on Zoom.
Mary
2021-2022 Themes
September: Possibility
October: Relationship
November: History
December: Joy
January: Intention
February: Widening the Circle
March: Faith
April: Awakening
May: Beauty
June: Blessings
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