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At the beginning of a new adventure, such as the start of a new year, it’s useful to take the time to set your intentions for how you want this next phase of life to unfold.  The Vedic Upanishads remind us, “You are what your deepest desire is. As is your desire, so is your intention. As is your intention, so is your will. As is your will, so is your deed, and as is your deed, so is your destiny.” 

During the day, desires float in and out of our mind, usually caused by a memory or something we are attracted to through our senses. However, the important ones that stay with us become intentions. We put our attention on them, which directs our energy there, and the intention becomes will or purpose. Now, there’s no going back; we put the wheels in motion to fulfill it, and it manifests as our life. What we put our attention on grows, so be careful to only desire what you really want, because you just might get it. 

Let Go for Growth 

Just as you might need to make space in your closet by giving or throwing away some of your old clothes before buying new ones, we need to clear space for our new intentions before we can enjoy their gifts. 

The start of a new year is a time to re-empower yourself, reignite your happiness, balance, and trust in life, and create space to focus on your new year health goals so that you can move forward with a renewed sense of purpose. Set aside some quiet time to review the past year. Take this opportunity to make any necessary adjustments to realign with your personal and spiritual goals. Are there habits, relationships, regrets, or grievances that you’re holding onto that aren’t serving you? It’s easy to dwell on the past but that’s no longer who you are. As Lao Tzu said, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”  

Access Gratitude for the Journey 

Before you start listing all the new things you want to bring into your life, take some time to be grateful for all the wonderful things you already have. Look back over the year and appreciate all the things you are grateful for, the small everyday things as well as major events. Everything in life, no matter what, has an opportunity hidden within it somewhere.  Everything that has happened has made you stronger and wiser and brought you to where you are today.   

Choose Meaningful Intentions  

When selecting your intentions, listen to your heart, your soul, and your higher self. Listen to the voice of your inner guru rather than your ego or what social media tells you. 

• Sit quietly and close your eyes.  
• Bring your awareness into your heart center.  
• Silently ask, “What do I want?”  
• Then, just listen to your heart without judgment or evaluation. The answers might come as words, images, or just a feeling. See if you can move beyond materialistic desires and discover what your soul yearns for and how your purpose not only supports your spiritual journey but also the world around you.  
• Ask the question again several times and just listen, “What do I really want?”   
• Don’t be afraid to be bold. Always strive for the best; you deserve it. This is your opportunity to rise higher than ever before.  
• When you open your eyes, write down your intentions. 
• You can ask the question again anytime during the year and make any adjustments to your list. 

Set the Intention 

Intentions are like seeds that we plant in our consciousness. When we plant a seed in the garden, we bury it deep in the most fertile soil. When we practice meditation or fall into a deep sleep at night, we slip into the silent field of infinite possibilities deep within. 

Form your intentions into one or two simple sentences and repeat them silently with your eyes closed before your daily meditations and before going to sleep at night. The faint memory of the intention will be carried and planted at the most fertile level of consciousness, where it can blossom and bear fruit in your life.

Release the Outcome  

Being attached to the outcome of an intention limits it and blocks the possibility of something even more magnificent than we originally planned. When we plant our seed in the garden, we don’t keep digging it up to see how it’s doing. Likewise with our intentions.  Release them into the field of infinite possibilities and let the universe take care of the rest. 

This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t help to move things in the right direction, just as we water the seed, but don’t struggle. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a great believer in effortlessness.  He often came up with ideas for wonderful projects. When people asked him where the money would come from, he would usually answer, “from wherever it is now.”  

Enjoy the Manifestation 

Some of life’s greatest blessings arrive unexpectedly. Sometimes, your intentions may unfold in surprising ways. Be prepared to look beyond the obvious; you never know what wondrous magic you might discover. Be patient and flexible. Everything happens exactly when and as it should. As the Buddhist proverb says, “If you are facing in the right direction, all you need to do is keep walking.”  

Let love and joy illuminate your path and allow the New Year to be the most fun year ever. And, as the Rolling Stones sang, “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.” 

A Simple Intention Ritual 

This is a simple ceremony that can be performed on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s morning, or at another time if it is more convenient. 

• Take two small candles, tea-lights work well.  
• Mark one so you can tell them apart.  
• Hold one in your cupped hands, close your eyes, and imagine you are releasing everything you want to let go of from the past year into the candle.  
• Set that one aside and hold the other candle.  
• Close your eyes and imagine you are putting all the wonderful things you want to happen and achieve in the coming year into this candle.   

Note: If possible, before you go to sleep on New Year’s Eve, light the first candle. Place it somewhere safe and allow the things you want to release to burn away during the night. The next morning, light the second candle and again put it somewhere safe. As you move into your day, allow the light of the candle to welcome all your new intentions into the year ahead. 

Meditation to Awaken Your Intentions 

Here’s a simple meditation that you can do anytime to help awaken inner intentions for finding your true direction in life. You can do it with your eyes open or closed. 

• Start by taking a few easy breaths, being aware of your breath effortlessly flowing in and out. 
• Bring your awareness into your heart center in the middle of your chest. 
• Silently ask the following questions, pause between each one, and listen to the answers that arise spontaneously from your heart center. 
• What should I do to bring peace, harmony, and balance into my life? 
• How can I bring joy effortlessly into my life? 
• What will help me step free from limitations? 
• What is my true purpose? 
• What do I really, really want? 
• Remaining silent, imagine bringing the answers into your heart center and releasing them deep into the fertile field of infinite organizing power. 
• When you’re ready, open your eyes and enjoy the magic that awaits you. 

Roger Gabriel is Chopra Global’s Chief Meditation Officer and a member of the Chopra Center Certifications’ Advisory Board. Want to learn from him directly? Enroll in the Chopra Meditation Certification, the Chopra Meditation Enrichment course, or the Chopra Meditation Foundations course.