What is Intentionality?
Intentionality is a key Emotional Intelligence competency which is our ability to act deliberately and on purpose. Intentionality is aboutness. It has to do with making decisions and taking action consistent with our goals and needs. In other words, when we are intentional, we are able to manage distractions, keep focused on our objectives, and be consistent with our efforts to bring about things we want. It is also about how we engage the world around us to meet our goals.
The term intentionality was coined by the Scholastics in the Middle Ages, and derives from the Latin verb intendo, meaning to point (at) or aim (at) or extend (toward). The concept of intentionality was reintroduced in 19th-century contemporary psychologist Franz Brentano. Brentano described intentionality as a characteristic of all acts of consciousness, "physical" or "mental" - www.scholarpedia.org
People with this competence are clear about what they want to make happen in their lives, in their careers or in a particular time. They think deliberately to achieve the outcomes they want. On the other hand, people without this competency fail to set goals and adhere to them. They also allow themselves to become distracted from what they ideally want to achieve - whether that's their 'perfect' life, finding an ideal position or career, or being intentional and deliberate in choosing friends or a mate in life. They have lost the ability to focus and believe-in their intentions.
To become intentional, each day think to yourself, "What do I ideally want to happen this morning, in this day or a week ahead?" Don't allow yourself to be distracted from your goals, focus or intentions. Sub-consciously believe in your intentions and that you have control of your daily life.
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