Conscious Effort

by Sudhir M

The predominant thought that we have just before slipping into the subconscious sea of sleep, brews all night, infecting our consciousness. If we can and if we do use our volition to impregnate our consciousness with vigour and vitality at that hour before slumber, we will have transmitted fresh burst of energy into our psychic self. We innately desire a vigorous body and an agile mind. There is an innate desire to defy the aging process, if not defy then slow down at least.

Often, the closing thoughts before falling asleep, the rhythm in our heart, the nervous energy, and the dinner in the belly determine the quality of our sleep and also how we are going to start afresh the next morning. Stretching this concept further most Hindus believe that unless we can die consciously we carry forth most of the karmic backlogs and challenges unto our next life till we learn and overcome our life lessons. Hence the process of change, transformation and evolution is painfully slow for the majority. The Yogis of yore have been known to prepare and be prepared for the last moment, and that could be any moment, to inwardly hold on to the metaphysical truth about their divine self – eternal, infinite, full of life and joy.

As we have just got done with 2018 and busy celebrating 2019, we are at a crucial cusp in our life, and we can choose to evaluate the bygone year and make a few Sankalpa ushering the new-year. It is definitely a celebratory period of the year where not only friends and families rejoice but even the community and cities also enjoy good cheer and revelry. I will like to propose that we make a special effort and set aside some time during this 1st week of January to mentally review and acknowledge the digressions and various achievements of this year. It may sound cliché but I will urge that we all also write down the set of goals and guideposts for the year. In this first month of the 2019 resolve to be especially positive, kind and cheerful and at every night fall meditate for 20-30 minutes and affirm your Sankalpa at the end of your meditation. When you wake up into a new day, very quickly repeat and observe the Sankalpa for 2019. In this manner the seed of transformation will be sown deep within your consciousness and with your focus and vigil nurture the same and have a most fulfilling year ahead.