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Sankalpa (संकल्प) In Yoga tradition, the resolution offers a is a brief and positive statement, a chosen resolution to summon your willpower, to change what we do or who we are.
Now that we have Christmas behind us and we’ve celebrated the New Year in, it’s now time to reflect upon the year ahead of us. Yes, it’s the time of year that people set their New Year’s Resolutions, like to lose weight, or to get fitter, or to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (or maybe not). If this sounds like a daunting prospect, you are not the only one. Most people’s New Year’s resolutions fall by the way side in February. To create a New Year’s Resolution is great, but sometimes we just set the goal post too high and set the time frame too short for ourselves to achieve it and we get bored. Sometimes we just believe that we aren’t good enough to achieve the resolution that we have set in first place leading us to disappointment. This time of year can also be difficult for a lot of people, as we can reflect on what has gone wrong in the past year, instead of what’s gone right and then carry our own fears forward into the next year and then end up accomplishing nothing.
I came across the word Sankalpa (Sanskrit – संकल्प) during my yoga studies, basically it’s the same intention setting as a New Year’s resolution but it’s done in a more meaningful way. For instance, the resolution should not be set while you are counting down till midnight on the 31st December with a glass of champagne in your hand while doing the hokey cokey, the resolution or idea needs time to settle into the brain to make sure that it is the right decision. It’s a bit like planting a seed; you need to wait for it to germinate mindfully and carefully. In Yogic terms, Sankalpa is to set an intention in order to achieve your hearts felt desire. The difference is that with Sankalpa we can set a goal whenever we wish to and we set it from our heart and not from our head where our ego can sometimes take over. Small goals set often are the best way to look at it. When I teach my yoga class, I often ask my students to set an intention for themselves, even if it’s just to give out peace while breathing out. Remember, to climb any mountain, you have to take it at one step at a time. So before you jump in and make your New Year’s Resolution for 2017, take time out to think about what it is that you would really like to achieve. Make an appointment with yourself, sit quietly on a chair or park bench. Take a day off work if need be so that you can be at one with yourself. Go for a walk in nature; go to a yoga or a meditation class, this will give you head space to let your creativity flourish. But most of all, be present within yourself and be patient. Give yourself the time to let go of the past and give yourself the sanction to just be you.
Remember you already are what you need to be to fulfil your life’s dream, your true potential is inside of you ready to burst out
Questions to ask yourself
Ask yourself what it is that you want to do, what are you naturally drawn to, what is your hearts felt desire. Then ask yourself the question, why do you want to achieve it and why is this wish so important to you. This will help you to bring clarity to your intentions. Once you have done this, other things may come to mind, write down everything, you could use coloured pens, mind maps, photographs or illustrations if you need to, but make sure you don’t forget it!!
After you have completed this, write a really positive affirmation to seal your intent. Repeat it every day, 3 times a day if possible.
Lastly please contact me, let me know how you get on, I’d be really interested to know…
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