Creating the Year of your Dreams

Each year, there are many opportune times to set intentions. The New Year is one of the most obvious because it is a time where we embark on a new path: we reflect back- understanding what we have to work on and what we did well the past year. In Yoga, we follow a similar path through setting intention.
Intention setting is not the same as making a goal. Goals are specific circumstances you work hard for in order to see occur in the future. Goals are valuable in their own way, but they encourage dwelling in the future. Intentions, on the other hand, directly relate to life in the present moment. Setting an intention is easy and fun. They provide limitless opportunities to prosper in the present moment by creating boundaries through which we can direct our actions to reflect our intentions. The following exercise will help you discover your intentions. You will need a pen and paper.

Setting your intention:
Come to a comfortable seated position and become aware of your breathing. Observe the breath moving gently, deeply into the belly and out again. Notice any sensations in your body- heat, cold, openness, tightness. Sit with the sensations and just be aware that they are there. Relax every bone and muscle; your skin, your hair.Ask yourself one question:  “What is important to me?” Sit with this question as you follow your breath. Allow time for the mind to relax so that your answer comes from a deeper place. In the beginning, you may find your mind bouncing around goals that you have set for yourself, but soon it will settle and you will begin to realize your true values and what really matters. Write down what you experience.Now it is time to articulate your intention. Reflect on your experience and begin to write down some intentions. Here are some examples:
I laugh every day                       
I follow my heart’s values                       
I am mindful of my actions
I nourish the seeds of good in everyone
Keep writing until you find an intention that resonates with you.

Acting with intention:
Life involves making choices in each moment. Some choices are made mindfully, such as where we live or what we eat for lunch. Other choices seem more arbitrary and automatic- how do we treat ourselves and others or who we spend our time with. We want to be mindful of each choice and our intention, but it is very common to forget our intention and revert back to making unconscious choices. The following practice will help you retain your intention throughout the day.Every morning, before you get out of bed, sit up and follow your breath. Call to mind your intentions and bring the palms of your hands together in front of your heart. Gently press the tips of your fingers and the bottom of your hands together to create a hollow space in the middle of your hands. Imagine your intention living here in this space; in the form of a glowing, golden sphere. Allow it to grow. Then, press both of your hands and your intention into your chest. Keep your intention here, close to your heart, as you continue your day.Always keep your intention in mind and ask yourself, before you make any decision: “does this choice reflect my best intention?” If it does, do it! If not, find another way. This practice opens the door to possibility. It gives us the power to make a definitive choice in the present moment to better ourselves. Soon, all of these conscious choices add up to YOU living the life of YOUR dreams, because YOU chose it! 

Wishing you a blessed, joyful, and peaceful New Year!Namaste.

Authored by Matthew Mitlas