For any new spiritual goal, habit or intention to take root and grow strong, it needs to have fertile soil.  So think of the conditions that will support your vision, such as: spending time with other spiritual seekers, reading books that inspire your practice, keeping a spiritual diary, or participating in programs or retreats to boost your enthusiasm.  Spending time in the stillness and beauty of nature has been a tremendous source of support and inspiration for me.

The beginning of a new year is a natural time to reflect on and re-envision our lives.  The tradition of New Year’s resolutions can be life changing or it can be temporary way of fooling ourselves with lofty ideas that fade when reality hits.  Clarifying our intentions for this life is useful, but really makes an impact when we translate the vision into committed actions.

For example, I may be clear that I want to be more rested and energized as I embark on each day.  I may want to make time for spiritual practices or participate in workshops that support my personal growth.  But for those ideas to bear fruit, I need to break them down into specific goals.  I have to commit to a specific bedtime to feel more rested each morning, and determine how many meditation sessions per week are optimal for me to adequately develop my practice.

In addition to translating our vision into specific steps, it behooves us to reflect honestly on our other responsibilities, our physical and mental capacity and our will power.  It’s easy to set an admirable goal in a moment of inspiration that proves unreachable when we are stressed or struggling – a recipe for frustration and/or failure.  A good goal challenges us in small ways, building confidence with each success.

Success also requires enthusiasm and thoughtfulness.  It’s unrealistic to assume that we can muscle our way into new habits without planning ways to support them.  We can consider what other adjustments or changes are needed to make a goal doable.  For example, we may not be able to make time for some new activity in our lives without letting go of something else, and sharing that vision with friends is a great way to enlist their support.

Whenever we are trying to create positive changes in our lives, we can expect difficulty. Unwanted thoughts and behaviors are usually a product of impressions imbedded in the subconscious mind, and it takes time and repetition of a new pattern to replace them. With a combination of determination and willingness to persevere, we can override unhealthy inclinations.  Perhaps even more powerful is a prayer for strength and guidance, opening our hearts to the grace of a higher power in whatever way we understand it.

Carrying a meaningful intention in our hearts breathes spiritual life into our days.  Remembering again and again a higher purpose frees us from being captive to the consumer-oriented messages of our culture.  I pray that by practicing this way, we all grow more aware of the source of deep peace and love that is ever-present within.