Do you make new years resolutions? If so, have they been successful?
Research and experience tells us that most resolutions fail. This, I believe, is because they are made from a place of fixing something, or misguided desires, or that who we are isn’t good enough.
Here are a few common examples…..
I will start a diet and lose 10 lbs (fixing a perceived weight problem)
I will stop procrastinating (indicating there is something wrong with your behavior)
I will start saving my money (indicating a sense of lack)
We summon our will power, set goals, and imagine how happy we will be when we achieve them. But then fall short after a week or a month, and give up!
This, my friends, is where the problem lies. It’s not that setting goals is a bad thing, but it usually comes from our ego (our sense of self and self importance) not from a deeper heart felt place.
Heart Mudra
We know that to make any lasting change it needs to come from a deep intrinsic place within you.
So what I might suggest is to consider what the yoga tradition teaches…creating a Sankulpa, a refreshing alternative to new years resolutions.
A Sankulpa (resolve or vow) starts from the premise that you already are who you need to be to fulfill your life’s dharma (life purpose). All you need is to focus your mind, connect to your most heartfelt desires, and channel the divine energy within.
According to Rod Stryker, yogi and author of The Four Desires “By definition, a Sankalpa should honor the deeper meaning of our life. A sankalpa speaks to the larger arc of our lives, our dharma—our overriding purpose for being here.”
A Sankalpa can take two forms. The first is what Richard Miller, clinical psychologist and yoga practitioner, calls “the heartfelt desire,” a statement that reflects your true nature. This doesn’t come from the intellectual mind. The resolve comes from deep within us, directly out of the mystery of who we ultimately are. It then informs our mind of a particular direction that we need to take, or are taking in our life.
The second form is that of a specific intention. Setting specific intentions can help you align your moment-to-moment daily choices with your heartfelt desire. Look forward into the next year and ask yourself what specific things need to happen to move you forward on your path. Your specific Sankalpa will describe what you need to do, and where you need to direct your energy, to make progress on your larger life goals.
This second Sankulpa can look like a new years resolution, with one big difference. New years resolutions again mostly come from the ego, from a place where we feel lack or don’t feel good enough. Sankulpa by its definition, comes from a deep place within you, your heart. You know it to be true, you don’t have to create it in your mind.
In order to connect to your Sankulpa, your true nature and desire, you need stillness, to get quiet and listen. Ask the question – what is my life purpose? This answer is as individual as you are. It is already there, you just need to discover it.
A Sankulpa is a statement of deeply held fact, and a vow that is true in the present moment.
For this reason, your Sankalpa—both the heartfelt desire and the specific intention—should be stated in the present tense.
Rather than saying I will lose 10 lbs – you could say I feel my best and have the most energy 10 lbs lighter.
When your Sankulpa is complete, you can recall it throughout each day, helping you remember your true calling and desire.
Once you have identified and planted the seed of your Sankulpa, you can begin the process of strengthening sankulpa shakti, the energy to take the action required by your resolve. This is not will power but a desire to move toward your dharma.
So if your deepest desire is to feel healthier and more vital at 10 lbs lighter - each decision you make takes you closer to that resolve. Another way to say this is every conscious choice you make is an opportunity to strengthen sankulpa shakti.
The Sankulpa really describes who we are and how we move in the world when we’re in harmony with ourselves. This is a beautiful way to live our lives – with intention and resolve.
Let 2023 be the year of deep discovery, deep desire and intention, and to live your life’s purpose!