Do you know what you want in life? Answer this question with the first response that pops into your head.

Write this answer down on a piece of paper and use the clearest language possible. Once you've done that, I've got bad news for you - it's something you'll never achieve. You might as well throw the paper away and start from scratch!

You know this is what you want and you're motivated to get it, so how can it be unachievable? The reason is that chances are, what you've written lacks pure intent. Without pure intent, you can't get where you want to go.

What Is Pure Intent?

To put it simply, pure intent is the real 'why' behind your daily thoughts and actions. It's like what you wrote down on that piece of paper, but with one major difference - pure intent is clear and measurable.

Here's an example. Let's say that your goal is to overcome fear. You know what fear feels like and you can imagine what it would be like to live without it. But our stated goal has to be much more specific than that.

Picture yourself living fear-free. In this future image of yourself, what's different about you? Pick something specific. For example, you can walk into a room full of people you don't know and stay in control of what you do and say.

Let's take it even one further and add a quantifiable element - You can walk into a room full of people with all eyes on you and maintain a heart rate of under 70 beats per minute.

Making It Happen

Now that you know exactly what you want, you can create the steps you need in order to get there. What do you need to do in order to conquer fear so that you can keep your heart rate below 70? Try out some relaxation exercises like deep breathing or meditation. These can help you lower your pulse naturally.

Even better, practice it. Get out of your comfort zone and put yourself in situations that make you nervous. Pay attention to what your mind and body do. What can you do to prevent your body from reacting in the ways that it does?

Pure intent gives you something real and concrete to work toward. That's why it's essential to making your goals happen.

Mind Mapping Your Goals

A great way to work with pure intent is to use mind mapping. Mind mapping is a visual way of getting down ideas. There are free mind map programs that you can use online. A mind map starts with a central idea, and then other ideas branch off. It's a great brainstorming tool.

Put your vague goal in the middle. This would be like the statement you wrote down on your piece of paper. Brainstorm around ten things that would prove to you that you'd reached that goal (like our 70 bpm example above). These should be the branches coming off of your central goal. Now, you have some real things you can work toward.

Pure intent really just means knowing exactly what you want rather than having a vague idea. Learn how to clarify your goals and you'll be able to identify the steps you need to take in order to turn them into reality.