Becca Faith Yoga

There’s been a severe wind advisory posted in New York for the last few days, and I can’t think of a more apt weather condition for ringing in the new year. Since many of us make a special effort to enact our resolutions in these first weeks of January, it seems right to me that the “winds of change” are blowing through with so much force.

But there’s something else. These winds? They’ll eventually die down. And unfortunately, a lot of our resolve will, too.

So how do you keep the momentum of change going once the wind has quieted to a whisper?

I have no idea. Seriously, I don’t know. But I’ve been reading Turning the Mind Into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham, and I’m pretty sure he’s got it all figured out:

The problem for most of us is that we’re trying to grow a flower on a rock. The garden hasn’t been tilled properly…It doesn’t work to just throw some seeds on top of the hard ground and then hope for the flowers to grow.  We have to prepare the ground, which requires effort.  First we have to move the rocks and hoe the weeds. Then we have to soften up the earth and create nice topsoil…[we are] creating the space for our garden to grow. Then we can cultivate qualities that will allow us to live our lives in full bloom.  (7)

I think Sakyong Mipham really speaks to why New Year’s Resolutions notoriously fail; we try to make big changes without preparing ourselves for what’s coming. Most of us wouldn’t expect a long-time smoker to quit by saying “1…2…3…QUIT!” but that’s exactly what we’re doing by trying to effect change on January 1st.

What if we all decided to take January to prepare our soil and gather our seeds? Instead of commencing a starvation diet and over-zealous exercise plan, why not take extra time to plan meals, set goals for staying hydrated, and start to go for 20-minute walks 4 times a week? Or maybe instead of chaining yourself to a desk to bang out the Great American novel, why not start journaling this month to get into the swing of writing daily? And if you want to kick that nasty cigarette habit for good, why not dispense with the frigid poultry and start rationing your intake gradually, one day at a time?

If we just throw a handful of seeds at the frozen, winter-worn soil, these winds are gonna blow it all away. But if we find a way to thaw the ground and lovingly place each kernel in the earth…something beautiful just might grow.