This is the time of year when people reevaluate their lives and set intentions for a new beginning. Among the most popular new year resolutions are: lose weight, stop smoking, eat healthier, get fit, save money, get a better job. And yet, 88% of new year's resolutions end in failure. Gym memberships go up, diet programs get started, and within a few short weeks, all is forgotten. We are creatures of habit and return to what is comfortable, familiar, mindless,habitual or conditioned.
In his new book, The Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom, Rod Stryker (creator of Para Yoga, or yoga of fulfillment) does a good job of explaining the difference between a resolution and an intention, called a sankalpa in Sanskrit. A sankalpa is an intention that is aligned with the deepest desire of your soul to evolve and achieve the fulfillment of its dharma, a life's path guided by universal principles and spiritual discipline.
When we make resolutions that are not aligned with our highest good, or, as Stryker explains, there are forces greater than what we intend (called a vikalpa), we fail to sustain the effort required to manifest our sankalpa. A vikalpa usually refers to erroneous thought governed by unruly emotions and desires. These interfere with the discipline to engage our will and determination in service of the sankalpa, or highest intention. A simple example would be to determine, "I want to lose weight," but be overwhelmed by emotional cravings and revert to comfortable patterns of soothing distress that do not support the behaviors that lead to weight loss. Stryker offers suggestions for breaking these negative habits or patterns, as well as a pathway for creating a fulfilling life.
It requires spiritual effort to be true to yourself, uncover what blocks you from achieving your good, and dedicate sustained energy toward your soul's desires. It requires awakening your awareness and consciousness and not allowing yourself to "fall asleep" again and falling back into unconscious, conditioned ways of being. So in the next few days, resolve to spend some time in quiet self-reflection, going within and inquiring into the deepest truth of your being. If you want, follow Rod Stryker's suggested exercises to uncover the true desires of your soul for its greatest unfolding, and determine what your sankalpa for the coming year is. May you be successful in maintaining your resolve to evolve in 2012, and to achieve your greatest dreams and desires. May your success contribute to the success of all humanity to awaken to a more peaceful, harmonious, sustainable world.
May all beings be happy, may all beings be at peace, may all beings be free from suffering. Namaste!
