One of my first yoga teachers, Gary Kraftsow, once said something like this: “If you want an apple tree, plant apple seeds; if you want a peach tree, plant peach seeds. Don’t expect an apple tree if you’ve planted peach seeds.” With this simple but potent teaching, I learned early on the power of samkalpa, or intention.
I’ve created many intentions and goals in my life: New Year’s resolutions, vision boards, daily lists of things to do. More recently I’ve explored core desired feelings (inspired by Danielle LaPorte’s book The Desire Map), reciting my samkalpa after meditation and activating the higher brain (the area of the brain that allows us to experience joy, confidence and clarity). This exploration into self-discovery and intention is a clear example of why I resonate with a quote used by my friend and health coach Katarina Arneric: “Life is not about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself.”
And yet there are many goals and hopes that I never came close to achieving. Rather than beat myself about not accomplishing something, I’ve learned to reevaluate whether it was truly my heart’s desire. As the actor Bruce Lee once said, “A goal is not always meant to be reached; it often serves as simply something to aim at.”
I’ve learned that setting reasonable goals, knowing I could easily attain them, does not compare to setting goals that scare me a little, but excite me a lot.
We’ve all heard where the road paved with good intentions will lead. Samkalpa, is in fact more than just an intention, it means having the resolve and chutzpah needed to make that intention a reality.
In this issue our writers provide us with many points of entry into the exploration of samkalpa, or intention. Setting an intention or creating goals is nothing new, but I hope we provide some thought into how to realistically accomplish and manifest our intentions.
Gary Kraftsow also made this point: If you’re leaving from Boston by boat across the Atlantic, a few degrees will make the difference between landing in England and landing in Spain.
Aim well, sweet one, and enjoy the journey, fellow pilgrim!
-Lourdes
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