Blog The Art of Holding Intentions Without Attachment: A Lesson from an Unusual Seminar
The Art of Holding Intentions Without Attachment: A Lesson from an Unusual Seminar
A personal story about discovering how to pursue goals with clear intention while staying open to unexpected outcomes. Inspired by Neale Donald Walsch's unconventional seminar payment model, this reflection explores the paradox of being purposeful yet flexible, and what it means to create without demanding specific results.
Have you ever worked incredibly hard toward something, only to watch it unfold in a completely different way than you imagined?
You feel disappointed. Maybe frustrated. Perhaps even anxious, wondering why things didn't go according to plan. And then—sometimes months or even years later—you look back and suddenly understand. That unexpected turn was exactly what needed to happen to bring you here, to this moment.
When Wisdom Sounds Like Giving Up
I've heard the advice countless times: "Find the silver lining." "Every failure is a lesson." "Let go of attachment." "Trust the process."
Religious teachings tell us to surrender, to release our grip on outcomes, to trust that everything is designed perfectly. And honestly? I struggled with this for years. It felt like being told to lie down and accept whatever life throws at you. Was I supposed to just… give up trying?
That's not what it means at all. But I couldn't truly understand this principle until I saw it demonstrated in real life.
The Seminar That Taught Me Everything
Recently, I attended a seminar led by Neale Donald Walsch, author of Conversations with God. The seminar itself was fascinating, but what struck me most wasn't the content—it was the registration process.
The seminar had a fee. But here's the unusual part: you could choose to pay 100%, 90%, 80%, 50%, or even 0% of that fee. The content was identical regardless of what you paid. Everyone received the same value, the same teachings, the same access.
At first, I thought it was strange. As a business practice, it seemed impractical. But then it hit me: This was the teaching, demonstrated in action.
The Paradox Resolved
Neale set an intention—to offer valuable teachings and to be compensated for his work. He stated his price clearly. That was his intention.
But then he opened his hands. He allowed for different outcomes. He made space for people in different circumstances to participate. Some could afford the full price. Others couldn't. Some wanted to contribute more. Others needed the teachings but had no means to pay.
He held a clear intention while remaining unattached to a single result.
This wasn't about being passive or giving up. It was about being both purposeful and flexible. He created what he wanted (a paid educational program) while accepting that it might manifest in varied ways (different payment levels, different participants, different impacts).
And you know what? This approach helps more people while maintaining the integrity of his intention.
What This Means for You and Me
I used to think the principle of "intention without attachment" was contradictory. If I'm not attached to the outcome, why bother setting intentions at all?
Now I understand: We're meant to set clear intentions about who we want to be and what we want to create. But we shouldn't demand that life deliver it in exactly one specific package.
Think about it:
You intend to build a loving family, but it might not look like the picture you had at 15 years old
You intend to create financial freedom, but the path there might include unexpected turns, partnerships, or opportunities
You intend to help others, but the ways you do so might evolve beyond what you initially imagined
The key is to keep your intention strong in every choice you make, while staying open to how that intention manifests.
The Practice
Here's what I'm learning to do:
Set the intention clearly. Know what I want to create, who I want to become, what values I want to live by.
Take purposeful action. This isn't passive. I work toward what I want with focus and effort.
Hold space for surprise. When things unfold differently than I planned, I look for how this might be serving my deeper intention in ways I didn't anticipate.
Trust that all outcomes can serve the intention. Even the "failures" and detours are part of the path.
It's not about lowering standards or accepting less. It's about recognizing that life has a creative intelligence that might deliver your intentions in more beautiful and surprising packages than you could have designed yourself.
What about you? Have you experienced a time when something "went wrong" only to realize later it was exactly what needed to happen? Or are you currently in that frustrating space of wondering why things aren't going according to plan?
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Share your reflections in the comments below—sometimes the conversations that follow are where the real wisdom emerges.
I'm Alvin Cheung, an IT pro with 15+ years helping businesses level up their tech. I love finding everyday wisdom and exploring how tech and spirituality can enhance our lives. When I'm not geeking out on IT solutions, I'm sharing stories about personal growth and life lessons.
Email: alvin.cheung@nstrlabs.com
A personal journey from high school tutoring to teaching professionally reveals a profound truth: the fastest way to master anything is to teach it. Discover why sharing knowledge creates abundance, not scarcity, and how giving freely accelerates your own growth.