Resolutions Are Tricky

I've been thinking about my New Year's Resolution and trying to craft the perfect one. I know what I want, but I also believe that it matters how I express it to myself in my head. The words that carry my intention matter.

Here's the big picture of what I'm going for: I want my whole life to be my practice. I want to be present, true, and kind as often as possible. I want to make nourishing, healing choices for my body and mind as often as possible.

A tall order...

Too tall? 

There's a school of thought that one should break down one's goals into practical steps, in which case I'd phrase my resolution like this: I resolve to look at my phone less and listen openly to my children more; to speak my Truth, rather than say what people want to hear; to eat fewer salty snacks and sweet treats, and drink more green juice; to watch less TV and listen to more mantra.  

Maybe.

That might work.

But already I'm thinking about the stuff I left out, like making the laundry a mindfulness practice and cooking more.  

I find it tough to get the language just right. 

If creating a resolution is tricky, then keeping one is even trickier. Most resolutions don't stick. I've dropped quite a few resolutions myself over the years.

Even though we work on resolve in Kundalini Yoga (when we work on the navel center, center of discipline and commitment), it can still be difficult to stay the course. 

Even though we stress keeping up in Kundalini Yoga (and we practice keeping up by literally holding our arms up in the air for surprising lengths of time), we can still give up on our resolutions. 

Even though we work on our egos in Kundalini Yoga, we can still succumb to that voice in our heads and let it drown out the intentions of our Higher Selves. 

Our resolutions must reflect our True Selves, our Higher Selves, and then we must commit. How? 

How can we compose just the right resolution?

And how can we stick to it beyond the initial burst of enthusiasm the first week of January?

I want to know. So, I asked my teacher, Dharma Devi, to create a workshop around the topic of New Year's Resolutions for us. I am happy to say that she said yes, and we will have her guidance and inspiration on how we can shape our futures and stay true to what we promise ourselves.

I hope you'll join us on Sunday, January 8 from 2-5pm for Shakti Dance™, The Yoga of Dance: Shed Internal Barriers and Manifest Your Intentions. Click here for more information and to sign up right now. 

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