I’ve been intentional about easing into this new year – and with the winter weather at the end of January keeping North Texas inside a few days, a little unintentional! And that idea doesn’t stop just because the calendar flipped to a new month. As we were so recently reminded, it’s still winter. And taking a cue from nature, winter is that time of rest, of resetting and preparing for the months ahead. With all of that in mind, as we ease into February and a month of all kinds of love, I considered what I wanted to write about and decided to revisit the idea of santosa.
What is santosa? It is one of the Indian philosopher Patanjanli’s niyamas, or these ideas of personal action or self-treatment, for a very high-level reference. Santosa is often translated simply as contentment. Continuing my theme of easing into the new year and all those new year goals and intentions, I don’t think we have to consider that contentment means staying where we are.
Contentment can be thought of as more present focused. It’s those quiet moments in nature when maybe one looks around and feels…satisfied. Happy. Content. Or it may be an evening out with friends and family, laughing over a shared meal. It’s these moments that add up.
So how does it relate to new year goals?
Thinking of new year goals, there’s where we are and where we want to be. But growth or change takes time. And it’s important to think of these moments that bring contentment because getting to these current moments has taken time and hard work. I think it’s a good feeling to acknowledge that. Again, doesn’t mean we can’t work to grow more or change certain things, but there’s celebration in the current moment.
This idea of satisfaction with the current moment while moving forward really resonated with me early on in a new year. When it can be easy to get discouraged by not having reached a goal – yet – the progress is worthy of highlighting and celebrating. And it can even be a powerful reminder to continue moving forward, rather than lamenting not being at a certain point.
Unexpected moments come up that may impact new year plans. Take January’s winter storm. If one plan was to get outside and walk more, the snow and ice likely put a dent in those plans. But there were still things to enjoy: how pretty the ground looked after that snow fall, a good book while staying warm and cozy, or warm, nutritious, and comforting meals. And maybe a virtual yoga class!
As we reach the middle of this year’s first quarter, what are some moments where you might look around and feel a sense a contentment?
This is the part of a series of posts for The Mat Yoga Studio, sharing my thoughts and observations as a student only. The views and opinions are my own experience.
