In the new year, it’s a common tradition to take time to reflect on the past, reevaluate priorities, set intentions, and make resolutions for the future. Establishing New Year intentions or resolutions CAN be a positive way to set goals and make changes in your life.

However, it’s also common to feel daunted by the idea of setting lofty, unattainable goals, and the fear of failure can feel overwhelming. Could it be that New Year intention setting and the accompanying resolutions just don’t work?

As I look through my social media feeds this time of year, the message rings loud and clear. People are tired of striving, trying to be something they are not. Instead, we long to find rest for our souls.

In this blog post, we will explore how the yogic practice of Sankalpa can help Christians approach new year intention setting with a fresh perspective as they set goals, make resolutions, and seek change in the upcoming year.

New Year Intentions versus Resolutions

The terms “New Year intention” and “New Year resolution” are often used interchangeably, but they carry different connotations and come from differing approaches.

Resolution: a firm decision to do or not to do something. (Oxford Dictionary)

A resolution is a decision to make a change and tends to focus on outward, measurable outcomes. Resolutions often come from a scarcity mindset about ourselves and tend to focus on our shortcomings, based on the assumption that we need to make a change because we are not good enough.

Rather than setting goals focused on what we are NOT, New Year intention setting offers a positive approach.

Intention: a thing intended; an aim or plan. (Oxford Dictionary)

New Year intentions offer a mindful approach to fostering positive change, pointing us to our aspirations and focusing inwardly on personal growth. The process of New Year intention setting tends to emphasize the journey rather than fixating on specific achievements with measurable outcomes.

New Year Intentions & Resolution Examples

New Year intentions and resolutions often overlap and may even support the same goal. While there are similarities between the two, there are also subtle differences.

Here are some examples of New Year resolutions vs. New Year intentions:

New year resolution setting examples:

  • “Lose 10 Pounds by March” is a specific, measurable goal with a focused desired outcome for weight loss.
  • “Complete an online course by summer” is a goal-oriented resolution with a specific course and time frame in mind.
  • “Read through the Bible in a year” is a measurable goal related to a specific achievement for growing in Biblical wisdom within a defined time frame.

New Year Intention setting examples:

  • “Embrace a healthy & nourishing lifestyle” is focused on adopting a healthier way of living rather than achieving a specific weight or fitness level.
  • “Foster personal growth through lifelong learning” is focused on continuous learning and personal development rather than the completion of a specific course.
  • “Cultivate more time and space for God” is focused on fostering a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God rather than more Biblical knowledge.

As we can see, there are small but important differences between new year intentions and resolutions. New Year intentions are a more positive approach to setting goals for the new year.

A bit of wisdom from yoga philosophy takes this a step further and the practice of Sankalpa offers us an even higher purpose for setting goals and seeking change.

The Power and Meaning of Sankalpa

Sankalpa is deeply rooted in yogic philosophy and is commonly used in yoga and meditation practices. When you set an intention at the beginning of a yoga or meditation practice, Sankalpa serves as a focal point that helps you clarify your mind. It helps you focus your actions and energy toward a particular goal or higher purpose during your practice. The word “Sankalpa” is Sanskrit and is often translated as “intention” in English. It is a combination of the root words: “san,” which means connection, and “kalpa,” which means vow, promise, or intention.

The essence of Sankalpa points to our “connection” with highest truth and our solemn vow, intention, or resolve to do something or achieve something in light of this connection. Sankalpa is not aimed at mere habit formation and behavior modification but is a way to connect with your heart’s deepest desire. It is similar to the English concept of a resolution or intention, except that it comes from a deeper purpose and tends to be focused on spiritual aspirations.

Sankalpa Examples

Sankalpa goes deeper than traditional resolutions and intentions by tapping into a deeper meaning and fostering a sense of purpose in your life. By establishing a Sankalpa for the new year, we can cultivate a positive, mindful, and meaningful approach to our personal and spiritual growth.

Here are some common Sankalpa examples:

  • “My body is a temple, and I nourish it with wholesome food, movement, and self-care.”
  • “I embrace each moment with gratitude, finding joy in the simple pleasures of life.”
  • “I cultivate a daily practice of mindfulness, grounding myself in the present moment.”

Sankalpa & Setting Christ-Centered New Year Intentions

Fundamental to the Christian faith is the recognition that humans are in need of transformation. The new year offers followers of Christ a perfect opportunity to set goals to become more like Jesus in the upcoming year. But if we are not careful, New Year intentions & resolutions can backfire resulting in deep guilt and shame.

Failed resolutions can cause us to hyper-focus on our shortcomings. Well-meaning intentions can overshadow the grace that we have received in Jesus. When we strive to do the impossible task of changing ourselves in order to be “good enough” all on our own, we step into a heavy yoke.

The practice of Sankalpa can help Christians seek transformation from the comfort of Jesus’ easy yoke!

Let me explain… The yogic concept of Sankalpa is based on the belief that you ALREADY have everything you need to fulfill your life’s purpose. Rather than focusing on shortcomings, Sankalpa begins with loving ourselves. It acknowledges that we have an intrinsic goodness and beauty that is the “well” from which we can draw the energy we need to be transformed.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

Christians believe that the core of our being was fashioned in the image of God and that this “intrinsic goodness and beauty” in us are but a reflection of God. This image has been fractured by sin and Jesus is the remedy. He is restoring God’s image in us.

Because of this, we can love ourselves RIGHTLY & FULLY because we know that we are loved by God. He will fulfill his purpose in our lives and invites us co-labor with Him, doing good works for His own glory and for the good of others.

Sankalpa and Christ-centered Spiritual Intention Examples

The essence of Sankalpa is a commitment to spiritual growth and a vow to live a life of purpose, meaning, and alignment with our highest truth. Christians believe that Jesus is the highest truth and that He invites us to live a life of purpose and meaning as we follow him in this world.

As followers of Christ, when we embrace the concept of Sankalpa while setting new year intentions, we can look to the Bible inspiration as we seek to be transformed to look more like Jesus.

Here are some Sankalpa examples for Christians:

  • “I commit to the Lord whatever I do, and He establishes my plans.” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV) focuses on your deeper purpose and spiritual growth as you commit to living according to God’s Will.
  • “I am not anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, I present my requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guards my hearts and my mind in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NIV) is focused on your commitment to trust God and continually give anxieties over to the Lord.
  • “I do everything in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14 NIV) focuses on your call to live a life of love and compassion.

There is no timeline, no deadline, no guilt, and no shame with Sankalpa. You can spend one day, one week, one year, or a whole lifetime focusing on a single intention with hopes of deepening your connection with God, growing in the likeness of Christ, and cultivating life in the Spirit.

Sankalpa is not just limited to the New Year intentions and resolutions but is often used in meditation and contemplative practices.

Curious to know what does the Bible say about meditation?

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