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Feature with Kathy Ornish
Resolution
Happy New Year, Yogis!
Well, it’s that time again - the time when we think about resolutions. And you might not realize it, but resolution toward a goal (sankalpa), and its friend, discipline (tapas), are a very integral part of yoga practice.
During meditation classes that I teach, I often ask people to make a resolution toward beginning their regular meditation practice. I’ve found that there must be not only a clear goal articulated with the sankalpa, but a very clear motivation, a deep, heart-felt desire, why you want to accomplish that goal. Not a “should,” but an intention formed with your heart’s calling, a devotional quality, integrated with the mind.
One often thinks that resolution is simply about discipline or self-control, but discipline does not a sustainable resolution make. With discipline only, harshness can often develop, which is likely to be harmful by strengthening habits that don’t otherwise support us. Instead we are looking for discipline in the service of our heart’s intention.
To manifest our specific goal, we want one-pointed resolve aimed in a direction motivated by the heart’s calling, clarified by the mind, and supported through discipline.
Steps to a resolution (I’ll use creating a meditation practice as an example, but it could literally be anything you want to create or stop-doing):
- What would you like to achieve? (e.g. I want to sit for 15 minutes every day for 2 months).
- Why do you want to achieve this, meaning, ask yourself what is the deepest, heart-felt desire why you want to manifest this? This is the most important part in order to sustain it. (e.g I want to suffer less).
- Make a plan. (e.g. I will arise right after awakening, go to the spare bedroom where I have my meditation chair/cushion, light a candle, remind myself the heart-felt reason why I want to meditate, and then sit for 15 minutes using a timer. I’ll put a note by my bed to remind me).
- Observe (not judge!) what arises in the mind in the doing and/or not doing of the sankalpa. This helps us not only understand the process of achieving our resolution’s goal, but also leads us to a deeper understanding of ourselves. (e.g. I find it’s hard to be with myself…I feel connected and clear afterward…I keep forgetting to sit…What’s the point if I am so distracted?)
Since reluctance and resistance are regular visitors in anyone’s resolutions, how do yogic principles make such resolutions different from the traditional ones that fill gyms in January and empty them by March? First and foremost, is that we are fueled by focusing on what the mind and heart hold highest and dearest. Second is letting go of judgment and blame. Third is the opportunity for self-understanding, especially as we continually remind ourselves of the deep longing that is our motivator. Wishing you all the best in 2018!
Yours,in service,
Kathy Ornish
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