According to philosophers, intentionality describes both a mindset and a set of practices. There are five components. An action is considered intentional if:
· the agent has a desire for an outcome
· belief that the action will lead to the outcome,
· an intention to perform the action
· the skill to perform the action
· awareness while performing the action
The key, of course, lies in travelling with conscious awareness. Applying action to the belief means that whatever it is that you wish to accomplish will happen. Like free will, this means we are in control of our own fate, and can determine our own future. It is not “written” as some would say. We make change happen with our intent.
I describe “intentional travel” as journeying with purpose and meaning. As someone trained as a journalist I find many types of tourism to be meaningless. What’s the point of flying 12,000 miles to get drunk on a beach? You could do that at home and avoid the jet lag. Why such a focus on touring old buildings and tourist traps via bus tours, all of which lead you to avoid meeting with the people who live in the country where you are visiting?
Those who travel with conscious awareness, intent on making the world a better place than they found it, may have a different perspective than the casual fun seeker. Why not intentionally plan to meet and interact with the people you meet? If you are travelling in the developing world, why not choose to help the less fortunate you are bound to meet? There are choices to be made, ethical choices. Who to help? Why? Better yet, how?
Even with very little money it is possible to make a real difference in the community you visit. All that is necessary is to affect and maintain a certain state of mind, the kind of consciousness that allows you to see the world for what it really is. Then to perform deliberate (not random) acts of kindness, then follow the doors that always open. Like Alice in Wonderland, down that path lies mystery. As a writer, that’s where I find my best stories.
I’ll be updating this blog regularly with comments, stories, links to video clips, news of my appearances and talks. Please feel free to contact me with your comments
