January: Blessing for 2018

​A blessing is a circle of light drawn around a person to protect, heal and strengthen. ~ John O’Donohue
 
I confess that I have a love/hate relationship with goals. On one hand, I've always loved making lists and scenarios of what I want to do and have in the future. Frankly, I can daydream till the cows come home. But as I travel further down the road of spiritual growth, I'm becoming very leery of this "living for the future" mindset.

I know that the future and the past are both ego territory. The mind loves anything that keeps it planning and scheming, or reminiscing and regretting. Meanwhile, we miss what's happening right under our noses. It's possible to live your whole life without ever truly being present. 

This year I decided to approach my usual new year's resolutions from a different standpoint - more as aspirations and targets to aim for than destinations to reach or accomplishments to tick off a list. The ego is all about what we can accomplish (Doing), while the soul cares more about how we do it (Being). Ego also relies on white-knuckled willpower to get the job done, which isn't nearly as effective as the simple power of intention and attention.

And so this is how I'm hoping to live the coming year:

• May I be present, awake and conscious, so that I can fully inhabit as many moments as possible.
• May I be truly grateful for all that I have.
• May I treat myself kindly and lovingly, so that I can treat others that way as well.
• May I be authentic and intentional in even the smallest interaction.
• May I be humble and willing to learn.
• May I both work and play with joy, giving my best.
• May I dance creatively and powerfully with the energy of money.
• May I grow daily in wisdom and compassion.
• May I look and feel like the best version of myself.
• May I always trust in the goodness of life.

 
​When it comes down to it, I’m convinced that if we just did the first thing on this list, to the best of our abilities and as often as possible, all the rest of the list – and everything else we hope to accomplish – would take care of itself. 
 
That is my #1 intention this year – to simply be present and live each moment with awareness.