Sankalpa

By Jennifer Rischard

March 2026

In Sanskrit, sankalpa means “a vow or resolve born from the heart”.

San means ”highest truth / connection,” and kalpa, means “vow/resolve”.

It is not a future-oriented goal, but a truth to remember—a reflection of who you already are.

I tend to revisit or renew my sankalpa in the beginning of a new year, but it is not a resolution.

A sankalpą can be set anytime. Times of stress, loss, transition, or when in need of focus are great times to create or renew one. It is a continuous practice of self-alignment, not strict resolution.

This type of practice has supported my personal journey of self-compassion. I've lived much of my adult life as a reluctant Type A personality...striving, forcing, and competing. I now find myself in a season of softening — a remembrance of my inherent Type B nature. Setting a sankalpa has helped me flip my record to the B-side (an age-indicative metaphor).

Resolutions tend to depend upon external success and focus on what needs to be fixed. It has been a recipe for failure (or perceived failure) for me, often resulting in resentment, self-deprecation, and feelings of unworthiness. Sankalpa shifts the focus to a deeper truth — who I already am beneath habits, fear, and conditioning.

Here are some brief instructions to create your own sankalpa:

Create stillness. Intentions land more deeply when the mind is quiet.

Ask the right question. Rather than focusing on what needs to change, ask, "What do I want to feel more of right now?" Encourage listening, not thinking.

Shape it gently. A sankalpa should be short, positive, present tense, and emotionally connected. It's more about how you want to feel, rather than what you want to achieve. "l am grounded and at ease." "I trust myself." "I am worthy of rest,” etc.

Repeat it with feeling. Repeat it several times to yourself. Not with the intent of forcing belief, simply letting the feeling land. It's like planting a seed.

Release attachment. A sankalpa works through remembrance, not effort. Let go and trust it will resurface to influence your future actions and decisions naturally.

What does your heart want to remember?