New Year but no Resolutions?
Most Hindus and Dharma traditions celebrate New Year that falls either in March or April as per the lunar calendar. Many Hindus celebrate with some festivities at home and some in group in some social gatherings. Its called with different Names Gudi Padva by people of Maharashtra, Ugadi in Andhra and Telangana, Chetichand for Sindhis etc. There are prayers, festivities and food. While we celebrate and pray, Resolutions are usually reserved for Jan 1. Yes those same resolutions which don't last for more than a week. Busiest week in the entire year in Gyms, parks etc. People chasing their fitness goals, career goals, relationship goals and even spiritual goals. They don't last long that's a different story. There is a philosophy that is prescribed in Yoga sutras on how to cultivate habits but that is for some other day. Today I would like to stress on why Jan 1 is not be your ideal choice to start cultivating a habit and why Hindu new year is a better choice to do the same. The idea is not hurt any sentiments but to make our life better and richer.
December, January fall in winter season where nature is hibernating. Very little grows. Days are very short and Nights are very long. In some parts of Russia, Iceland and artic countries you hardly see any sun during these months. Birds migrate to either towards equator or somewhere warm like Rajasthan in India. Even most parts of India there is extreme cold and days are much shorter than summer or spring months. Its time that leaves from trees have fallen and merged with mother earth. There is either snow or extreme cold in most of the Northen hemisphere (where most of the world population lives, more than 85%). Most people living in Europe, North America treat this time to be in quiet and contemplation rather than in dynamism and activity. Most IT offices, Corporate offices have hiring freeze, code freeze. People plan their family gatherings and Christmas holidays. By any strech of imagination do you think its a good time to kickstart any new habit. Do you think nature will support you. Is the atmosphere right to start anything that you want to keep it for life. It has to be worst dates to start a hobby or resolutions. No wonder they dont last. You want to be in sheets rather than gym or start journaling or do any major change to your life.
On the contrary March is the month where Spring begins. Nature is rejoicing. Fruits, flowers, colours, Sun everything is shining. Your moods are uplifted. No wonder March is named so because that is when we are suppose to March. March Ahead in every aspect of life be it your material, spiritual, personal. You see September (9th month), October (10th Month), November (11th Month) and December (12th and last month) are taken from Sanskrit words which means Sapt Ambar (7th Sky meaning month) and so on with Ashta Ambar, Nav Ambar and Dash Ambar. But September is 9th instead of 7th. Even the Gregorian calendar thinks that Jan and Feb are the last month of the year and not the starting.
In eastern traditions (not just in India) this is considered auspicious time. If you make your resolutions in the month of March or April closer to Hindu new year, chances that your resolutions will stick longer is very high. Its possible that they will have a long lasting impact rather than hitting a snooze button.
In my opinion the best resolution is to learn Yoga, breathing exercises, Meditation and start taking interest in knowledge of self. All other aspects of your life will follow. You will have more energy and enthusiasm for everything. You will be able to attend all aspects of life with much better ease.
For a free Introductory Meditation session for yourself or for your loved ones or to register for Happiness workshop, contact me on +91- 8104971780
