Sankalpa is the Sanskrit word for intention.

San means “a connection with the highest truth” and Kalpa means “in accordance with”.

Put simply, it is a positive intention we make to ourselves that is in alignment with the upliftment of our being.

A Sankalpa can emanate in different degrees.

It can take on different forms.

1. A resolve in alignment with the truth our Highest Self.

2. A resolve as a steppingstone towards our Highest Self.

3. A resolve than affirms a positive intention towards a favourable outcome.

A Sankalpa that is directed towards our Highest Self should be in alignment with the deeper meaning of our life. It should be in calibration with our dharma – our overriding purpose of being here.

It should honour the highest truth of who we are and thus inform the mind of a particular direction we need to take in life.

It becomes a vow we say to our highest Self that reminds us of your true nature and thus guide our choices in life.

To live your soul’s mission, you need to reach milestones. Setting specific intentions can help you align our moment-to-moment choices with our dharma. Through this approach we keep reaffirming our path towards our highest Self and thus create positive Samskaras (impressions) in the network of our psyche.

We can also create a Sankalpa for each new day, each new project, a declaration for a favourable outcome. We can make a Sankalpa towards our health and well-being and it can be used to face challenges and overcome negative tendencies.  

A daily Sankalpa can encourage and inspire us to strive on the upward path.

A Sankalpa becomes a prayer we say to ourselves to tap into our inner strengths and creative energies. A way to override negative tendencies and create positive patterns.

The best time to make a sankalpa is during meditation or yoga nidra, a state of very deep relaxation. When the mind is relaxed, the sankalpa can be planted in the unconscious mind. It is here in the unconscious mind that power of our intention takes roots and weaves itself into the fabric of our being.

In your daily life make a conscious effort to thread your Sankalpa into your thoughts, actions and words. Make it theme of your everyday life. It won’t come to fruition unless you purposely create this theme in your outer life

Through the creation of Sankalpas we have a tool to create to best life we can for ourselves and others.