The Power of Intention: How Thought Shapes Energy and Outcome

By Trish Briggs

In our classes, we talk a lot about the importance of intention. It's not just a nice add-on. It’s the foundation of energy work. Why? Because energy follows thought.

Intention is the conscious form of thought, and it can be either spoken or unspoken. (Spoiler alert: spoken thoughts carry more energy.) Let me show you how this plays out in a healing session.

Intention in Healing

Before every healing, I set a clear intention: that the healing energy be used for the client’s highest good. That’s it. I don’t define what that looks like. I don’t direct where the energy goes. I trust that the energy will find its way.

This intention gives the healing energy momentum and direction. It becomes a gentle but powerful guide. The client's highest good is between them and their highest self - not mine to determine.

Sometimes this shows up as an emotional release or a traumatic memory resurfacing. It might not look “pretty,” but it gives the client an opportunity to process and release something deeply held. Other times, the healing is more subtle or soothing - like the easing of a migraine.

Regardless of how it looks, I stay out of the way. I set the intention to remain unattached to the outcome. If I let my ego decide what should happen, the energy shifts away from what’s best for the client and toward my own projections. That’s not healing - that’s interference.

Energy Follows Thought

By now, you’ve probably gotten the drift: I work with energy through conscious intention.

In the early stages of self-awareness, we teach students to listen to their thoughts. This helps you identify which thoughts align with who you are - and which ones don’t. The goal? Eliminate or work with the ones that no longer serve you.

Why is this important?

Because every thought becomes an intention, which determines the direction energy flows - and ultimately, the outcome.

Here’s a simple formula:

Thought → Intention → Direction of energy flow → Outcome

Let me give you an example.

Early on in my journey, I caught myself thinking, “I can’t ever win,” after something didn’t go my way. Seems small, right? But without even realizing it, I set an intention: I don’t win. And guess what? When that became the outcome, it reinforced a subconscious belief that I never win.

Reality check: Do I want that kind of energetic loop ruling my life? No. So here’s how I changed it.

As soon as I noticed the thought, I said:“Stop. This is false. I do believe I can win. Maybe this situation didn’t work out, but that doesn’t mean I can’t win.”

That simple redirection stopped the thought from becoming an intention. Over time, it also began to dissolve an old belief that was no longer true.

With practice, you’ll find the same - your thoughts quiet down, your awareness sharpens, and your energy becomes more aligned and intentional.

The Tone Behind the Intention

As you become more attuned, you’ll notice subtler energies, like the tone behind an intention. Or the tone that comes with energy. Even when two people do the same thing, the energetic signature can be completely different depending on the intention behind it.

Here’s a real-world example.

Let’s go back to that healing session - but this time, I’m the client.

I receive healing from two different practitioners. Both offer me energy work. Neither says much about their intention or openly states it. On the surface, the sessions look the same.

But energetically? They feel very different!

One healer stays neutral and unattached, allowing energy to flow where it’s needed. The other healer decides for me what my “highest good” should be and directs the energy accordingly. Perhaps this all comes down to training versus conscious thinking.

I feel energy from both - but I walk away feeling more clear, more supported, and more whole from the first one. Why?

Because the tone of her unconscious intention was towards my healing and highest good. It was centered around me and my Divine. The healing wasn’t colored by ego, another's energy, or assumption - it was aligned with universal love and divine flow.

Why This Matters

Tone is subtle, but it matters. Just like the difference between a meal made with love and one slapped together out of obligation - you feel it (and sometimes even taste it).

Intentionality isn’t just about what you do. It’s about how you do it.

So the next time you catch a thought that feels out of alignment, pause. Question it. Shift it. Speak what’s true. And watch how your energy - and your life - begins to move in a new direction.