Every January we’re told this is the moment.

New year, new you. New habits. New rules. New pressure.

And every year, most New Year’s resolutions quietly dissolve before February.

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions.

I work with Sankalpas instead — and they’ve changed everything.

In this post I’ll share:

• What a Sankalpa is

• Where it comes from

• Why it’s far more effective than traditional New Year’s resolutions

• How to create one (properly)

• When and how to practise it

• Examples of good vs not-so-good Sankalpas

• And why your words matter more than you think

If you’re ready to stop forcing change and start aligning with it, this is for you.

What Is a Sankalpa?

A Sankalpa is a Sanskrit word that roughly translates to a sacred intention or solemn vow.

It comes from ancient yogic and tantric traditions, most commonly practised in Yoga Nidra, meditation, and ritual work. Unlike a goal or resolution, a Sankalpa is not about fixing yourself — it’s about remembering who you already are and choosing where you’re going.

A Sankalpa is:

• Short

• Clear

• Intentional

• Rooted in truth, not pressure

It’s not something you hope will happen.

It’s something you declare.

Why Sankalpas Are Far More Effective Than New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions usually come from:

• Guilt

• Shame

• Comparison

• “I should be better by now” energy

Sankalpas come from:

• Clarity

• Desire

• Alignment

• Trust

Resolutions are future-focused (“I will…”).

Sankalpas are present-tense (“I am…”).

Resolutions rely on willpower.

Sankalpas work with your subconscious mind, your nervous system, and your belief patterns.

That’s why they stick.

How to Create a Sankalpa

This is the part where people often overcomplicate things. Don’t.

Start by asking yourself:

• What am I really calling in?

• Why do I want this?

• How do I want to feel?

For example:

Want to lose weight?

Why? What would that actually give you?

• More confidence?

• More energy?

• More freedom in your body?

• More joy?

• The physical strength to play with your children?

Go deeper than the surface goal.

The Language You Use Is Vital

Your words are not neutral.

They are instructions.

Your Sankalpa needs to be unapologetically clear. No waffle. No self-doubt. No loopholes.

Remember these three non-negotiables:

Be Concise

Short enough to remember. Powerful enough to land.

Be Positive

Focus on what you want, not what you’re trying to avoid.

Be Present

As if it’s already happening.

Helpful language starters:

• I am

• I trust

• I see

• Every day I

• I love

Examples of Sankalpas (and Bad Examples)

Less effective:

• “I will try to be healthier”

• “I don’t want to feel stressed anymore”

• “I hope I lose weight”

More effective:

• “I am deeply at home in my body”

• “Every day I trust myself more”

• “I move through life with ease and confidence”

• “I love how supported and energised I feel”

Notice the difference?

Can I Do a Sankalpa Wrong?

Not really — but you can dilute it.

Things to avoid:

• Changing it every day because you feel impatient

• Making it about ego or external validation

• Writing ten at once

Choose one primary Sankalpa and work with it.

That said…

You Can Change Your Sankalpa at Any Time

You’re allowed to evolve.

Your intentions can evolve too.

If your Sankalpa no longer feels true or aligned, update it. That’s not failure — that’s awareness.

Be Warned: Words Are Spells

Whether you believe that spiritually, psychologically, or both — it’s true.

Your mind listens.

Your body responds.

Your nervous system adapts.

You are constantly manifesting — through thought, emotion, and language.

We see this all the time:

• Buy a new car and suddenly see it everywhere

• Worry about money and unexpected bills appear

This is often called the Reticular Activating System (RAS) — your brain’s filter for what you focus on.

What you repeat, you reinforce.

When to Practise Your Sankalpa

The sky really is the limit, but these moments are especially powerful:

Definitely practise:

• On waking

• Before sleep (especially with daily gratitude)

• During meditation or moments of calm

Also practise in:

• Moments of stress (to anchor yourself)

• Times you need reminding of your focus point

And yes — times of joy:

• When you’re eating

• When you’re with family or friends

• During pleasure or even during orgasm 🎆

Tell your mind: this is what I want more of.

Practical Ways to Work With Your Sankalpa Daily

• Write it on sticky notes (fridge, mirror, dashboard, bedside)

• Say it out loud when you see it

• Think it while feeling as if it’s already true

• Write it in your journal repeatedly

• Create a sigil and draw it in steam on the mirror or doodle it absent-mindedly

Make it playful. Make it embodied.

My Own Experience With Sankalpa

I created my first Sankalpa and worked with it for around a year.

Within weeks — possibly even days — things began to shift.

At first it didn’t feel real. Then it felt coincidental. Then it became undeniable.

It turned into a fun game.

And honestly? Slightly addictive.

I couldn’t wait to say it and watch life rearrange itself around it.

Call it the universe, God, source, the divine — whatever resonates.

Something listens when you speak with clarity and trust.

We've been conditioned to keep our 'wishes' to ourselves or else they wont come true. I call bull on that one! Say it out loud and unapologetically! If you're not quite ready to shout it from the rooftops just yet, thats ok. Maybe challenge why you arent confident to say it publicly and take baby steps to begib with. Think it, write it, say it to yourself and as it becomes more normal to you you may feel comfortable to say it in front of others.

Why I Don’t Do New Year’s Resolutions

If you wait for:

• The new year

• The new month

• The next Monday

…it rarely happens.

This month marks my 10th month on a specialist allergy diet for my baby.

I didn’t start on January 1st.

I didn’t wait until I felt ready.

I started on a random Thursday in the middle of the month.

I didn’t know everything. I started anyway.

That’s how change actually happens.

Final Thoughts: What Are You Really Calling In?

A Sankalpa isn’t about an expensive item or a surface-level win.

It’s about:

• How you want to live

• How you want to feel

• Who you’re becoming

Ask yourself:

• What opportunities would open up?

• How would my body feel?

• How would my relationships change?

• What would life look like if this were already true?

Then say it.

Repeat it.

Live into it.

You don’t need a new year.

You just need a clear intention.

Go grab a pen and paper and start planning!