Blogger and friend Mandy Learo (OK Namaste) writes a column for one of the local papers here, and I really like what she has to say in her latest one about New Year’s Resolutions and applying a yoga tradition called sankalpa. Read the whole thing here, but for me this is the key takeaway:
… A sankalpa is not a prayer or a statement of longing — it is a statement of fact.
Why do I want to begin walking? Because I want a stronger heart and stronger lungs. Why? Because I want a healthy body. Why? Because I want to care for it as best I can. Why? Because I love my body. My sankalpa, then, is, “I love my body.”
I think it’s a great concept and one that’s particularly relevant to those who may be in recovery from a suicide attempt, who may be working on maintaining sobriety or even trying to manage the day-to-day struggles that can come from anxiety and depression. When you think about the steps you take, break it down to the core of what’s important to you and why you’re doing what you’re doing. So check out the full article- I hope you find it as helpful as I have!
Paul's letters... 