Ahh, January. A new year. A formal opportunity to begin anew. An opportunity to shed those thoughts, those habits, those relationships (to things as well as people) that do not serve the higer purpose of our soul.
With January comes reflection, and lots of talk about how we can make ourselves, our lives, our world that we share together, better this year than it was last.
We only make change happen when the desire to change is greater than the resistance related to that experience. My teacher, Yogarupa Rod Stryker, has a beautiful equation for this; he refers to it as the “Creation Equation” in his book, The Four Desires:
When the intensity of desire, (shakti, Is), + the intensity one directs toward achieving it, (vayu, Iv) is greater than the intensity of resistance, (karma, Ik), then attainment of that desire (prapti, P) is successful.
Is + Iv > Ik = P
This equation is profound because we as humans tend not to change our patterns until they either a) bother us enough that we desperately want or need them to change, OR, b) the desire to change and the uncertainty of the unknown outweighs our current situation. Charles Du Bos has one of the most eloquent quotes on living an authentic, fulfilling, significant life: “The important thing is this: to be able, at any moment, to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.”
So, as we ponder who and what we want to become this year, I offer these thoughts on “resolutions.” I have found for myself that resolutions do not work. Rather, I find greater success in making PROMISES to myself. Promises that run deep, that touch my soul, that I know will challenge me emotionally, physically, cognitively, but will lead my heart, my soul, my destiny to exactly where it is supposed to be. I love these promises:
- I promise to accept everything I am and everything I am not.
- I promise to be truthful with myself and others, always.
- I promise to appreciate the beauty in others and recognize the light they bring.
- I promise not to judge – not others, not myself. We never know what may be going on on the other side.
- I promise to be more forgiving – of myself, of others.
- I promise to speak kindly and consciously to others and to my own self.
- I promise to stop trying to control everything and trust in a power greater than myself.
- I promise to find the divine in everything.
- I promise to follow my heart even when it shakes the conventional.
- I promise to embrace challenge and never run from it.
- I promise to see and use my power with wisdom and love.
- I promise to be steady and consistent in those things that steady and nourish my mind and body.
- I promise to always remember to have fun with everything that I do.
- I promise to always keep respect as the seed of all that I think, all that I say, and all that I do. May love, wisdom and gratitude light your way, and thankful for the opportunity to evolve together.
Happy 2016, and wishing you your brightest year yet!
