Susan's thoughts - Intention vs. Goals Speech

Confusing the two leads to suffering.

Goals are future oriented.  Focused on, “I’ll be happy when”, attached to an outcome.  Fulfillment based on a goal begets another goal or collapses into “I might not measure up”. “Life never really ever works the way I want.” “I’ve done all this and I am still not happy”.  Caught up in the external “thing to do”.

Intention is based on an understanding of what matters most to you and making a commitment to align your worldly actions with your inner values.  A willingness to have something come through bigger than your personality/ego needs (I have to, I should), not just something to do to get what you want.
Setting intention is a willingness to open to “what is possible”. It provides a meaning to your life and how you want to live.  When you are in touch with true intention you become more effective in reaching goals than when you are coming from your wants and needs to bolster the insecurities of the ego. It is larger and more meaningful than a goal oriented activity, focused on how you are “being” now.