When the Heart Says: This Way
To all women who long for a joyous meaningful life
Life has a way of pulling us in every direction—busy, needed, responsible—yet rarely offering space to pause and ask: How am I, really? What do I truly want?
You might have moments where you feel quietly disconnected, like something is missing. From the outside, it all looks fine—good job, loving family, supportive friends. But inside, there’s a gentle ache, a sense that you are missing something important.
At the same time you might ask yourself: Shouldn’t I just be grateful?
Yes and no. Practicing gratitude can be very beneficial for a positive mind state, but this is not an either-or situation. You’re allowed to want both: to appreciate what you have and still reach for more meaning, more alignment, more joy.
What’s at stake isn’t just your personal fulfillment. When you live disconnected from what matters most, it quietly affects everything—your relationships, your health, your energy, your choices.
The path isn’t always clear—but it can still be true
Many of us wish for a wise inner voice to give us a detailed map: Here’s your purpose. Here’s exactly how to get there. But most of us don’t get that kind of clarity. And that’s okay.
A meaningful life doesn’t require a grand, singular purpose. I love the metaphor (shared by Oliver Burkman) of the frog hopping from lily pad to lily pad. Each lily pad—a new job, a creative project, a shift in direction—offers experience, growth, and joy. Then we leap again.
The danger isn’t choosing the “wrong” lily pad. It’s forgetting that we’re allowed to leap.
Sankalpa: A compass for your inner path
One gentle yet powerful tool is sankalpa—a word from the yogic tradition that means heartfelt resolve.
Unlike a New Year’s resolution, which often comes from a place of lack or striving, a sankalpa works from the radical idea that you already are who you need to be. It simply helps you remember—and live from—that truth.
It’s a way to orient yourself. A compass, not a checklist.
There are two kinds of sankalpa you might explore:
A core sankalpa is like a deep current, quietly guiding everything you do. It expresses your soul’s longing or dharma—the arc of who you’re becoming.
Mini sankalpas are smaller, day-to-day intentions—like remembering to rest, being more present, or facing a challenge with steadiness.
These smaller intentions support the deeper one. They help us live the big truths in small, practical ways.
Creating your own sankalpa
A sankalpa is most powerful when it’s short, present-tense, and stated as if it’s already true. Instead of saying “I want to stop feeling overwhelmed,” you might say:
“I speak and act from inner strength.”
"I trust my creative rhythm."
"I feel vibrantly alive."
Let the words be simple and sincere. Your sankalpa doesn’t need to impress anyone. It’s meant to anchor you, not weigh you down.
Once you find it, pause. Imagine it already being true and feel it fill you with gratitude—that’s how the seed takes root.
When to plant the seed
Sankalpa works most deeply when repeated during states of calm—especially during Yoga Nidra, the guided deep relaxation practice I wrote about in my last newsletter. (To practice yoga nidra see the audio link below or visit the FREE RESOURCE page on my website.)
Other powerful moments are just before sleep or upon waking—those liminal times between wakefulness and sleep, when your subconscious is most receptive.
Each time you repeat your sankalpa, especially when your nervous system is calm and relaxed (alpha or theta brainwaves), it’s like watering a seed. With time, that inner seed begins to bloom.
A quiet homecoming
You don’t need to strive or force anything. Let your sankalpa live in your heart like a beautiful knowing. It becomes a steady presence—a voice that reminds you of who you are and gently draws you back when life gets noisy.
Even when the outer world shifts, your inner compass remains. That is the power of sankalpa.
May you leap toward your next lily pad with trust and wonder. 🐸
Kindly
Uschi