After years of failed attempts to manifest my New Year’s resolutions (ever happen to you?), I finally hit upon an approach that really does seem to work. When I shared this new strategy with friends at a recent satsang at Ananda Village, some of them asked me afterwards, “Could you write a blog about this so we can better remember it?” So, here it is.
Paramhansa Yogananda spoke often about the power of the mind to control our destiny. For many years as a young man he’d been plagued with chronic indigestion and was uncomfortably thin. Though he’d tried a great variety of remedies, his painful condition persisted.
Then came the day, Yoganandaji wrote in his autobiography, when his guru, Sri Yukteswar, fixed his gaze piercingly on him. “You are too thin,” he declared. “Medicines have limitations; the creative life-force has none. Believe that: you shall be well and strong.” Yoganandaji said his guru’s conviction made such a strong impression on his mind that he was healed instantly, and permanently.
What factors were at play in this remarkable story? First there was the divine power of the God-attuned guru, Sri Yukteswar, but there was also the fertile soil of the disciple’s receptive mind. Both are needed.
Master said, “The mind is the miracle of all miracles God has created.” A strong mind with firm resolve has the power to break the chains of limitation and past karma that bind us. With this thought in mind, I began inwardly asking, “How can I use my mind to make the changes I want in my life?” Instead of focusing on the specific form or object I wanted to change (“I renounce doughnuts,” for example), I realized I should think more about the process itself.
In other words, what is the operative factor in any beneficial change we are able to make? It is the innate power of the mind released to overcome the nay-saying, self-limiting ego. Thoughts like “You’ll never be able to give up doughnuts” are swept aside like debris in a powerful current when the mind force is unleashed.
So for 2022 my resolution is this: “I resolve to use the power of my mind to overcome all obstacles and accomplish my goals.” Remember the importance of attuning to the consciousness of a God-realized master. Let the Master’s power infuse your mind to accomplish your goals. Then you can be sure your aims are for your highest good, and that you’ll succeed.
Once we begin tapping into the unlimited power of the mind, there’s another strategy we can use to confront any challenge. Looking ahead to the coming year, there are many potential causes for concern, and it’s all too easy to fall into worry, anxiety, and fear. But we can use the disciplined mind to face whatever comes and look for God’s presence there. Master said, “Link every state of mind with God.”
You might think, “That’s easy enough to do when things are going well.” But using this technique, I’ve found even greater joy when I can bring God to mind in the difficult times as well: in the midst of challenges or discouragement. It’s then we realize that His divine joy is always accessible, even behind life’s shadows. Swami Kriyananda put it this way: “There is a joy appropriate to every situation.”
By aligning the miracle of our mind with higher consciousness we can use its power to build a better tomorrow, and to help all those around us.
I’ll close with an excerpt from Master’s prayer/demand, “Help Me to Win the Battle of Life”:
“O King of Kings—train Thou in me, in the camp of discipline, the noble qualities of calmness and self-control. Protect the celestial kingdom of my mind against entry by the tenacious warriors of evil. Let Thy banner of peace wave always above the strong castle of my soul.”
May Master’s blessings be with you in the new year.
Nayaswami Devi
Listen to the weekly commentary for this blog, with special behind-the-inspiration stories and answers to common spiritual questions. Subscribe to the podcast or download the audio recording by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (5:22):
Download the audio recording of this week’s blog by right-clicking here. Or listen to it here (6:09):
21 Comments
Dear Devi, reading your article I felt how much he was imbued with the Love and Compassion of the Master. I thank you deeply from the heart for being his Channel. Immediately my energy has risen, my Heart has awakened and now I am in joy,
thanks from Rashmi of Ananda Assisi
This message was very well received. I felt the vibrations of love as I read it and applied it to myself. Thank you for sharing. Much love and many blessings.
-Shawn
What a beautiful blog, thank you dear Devi! I am also working with this and I want to be able to bring the calm and concentration necessary to let the Master birth into my consciousness. The power of the mind and the will power are the keys for freedom! Jai Guru!
THANKS FOR YOUR GIFT, GIVES ME MORE AWARENESS AND MORE CLARITY ON MIND AND IT’S POTENTIAL OF POWER WITHIN ARE THE MOTHER OF MIRACLES.
WITH YOUR LOVE AND YOUR BLESSINGS,
GANESH VARSHAN SB
The last lines esp masters prayer /demand…and help me to win the battle of life . has such a powerful impact and I just liked those awesome and wonderful words .. I do keep chanting the gurus names always and I feel and believe they are protecting me from all ways .. Srinaadhaadhi guruteayam peethatrayam bhairavam ! Sighdhav gamu vatukatrayam paadayugam bhootikramam Mandalam ! Veerandyastha chatushka shasthiii navakam veeravalii panchakam shreeman Malini mantra raaja sahitam guroor mandalam !!!
A prayer for alll gurus !! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Inspiring and practical – the hallmarks of our path! Thank you, Devi!
I love this! Thank you 🙏
The context of exploring the higher power of the mind is really well received intellectually, however there is a psychological and somatic aspect in between our complex multidimensional nature that also need to be explore acknowledged before let go parts of our ego we don’t need, in order to communicate with our sub personalities or protectors to let the SELF heal the EXILE parts and bring back the purest parts of our divine self lost during childhood or even in previous lifetimes.
Can you comment on what sort of self therapy would be good to help with the process a part from the one I know IFS (Internal Family Systems)
Dear Devi
Thank for helping me to see the way to joy.
I would like to continue to receive your words.
Withe joy in my heart thank you.
The context of exploring the higher power of the mind is really well received intellectually, however there is a psychological and somatic aspect in between our complex multidimensional nature that also need to be explore acknowledged before let go parts of our ego we don’t need, in order to communicate with our sub personalities or protectors to let the SELF heal the EXILE parts and bring back the purest parts of our divine self lost during childhood /previous lifetimes..
Do you think is necessary to work somatically / psychologically as well as spiritually ???
Thank you so much dear sister Devi
Namaste
Dear Devi,
Happy and blessed New Year to you both!
This is perfect…powerful, and practical ! Thank you so much for sharing your insights.
(You reminded me that when I used to teach asanas and meditation in my addiction treatment center, I always reminded the patients that the most powerful thing that they have to work with (in overcoming addiction) is their mind).
Awesome bit of very practical and high spiritual advice. Thank you !!
Extremely good advice, because it works. The minutes are more important than the years in linking every thought in the mind to God.
Thank you dear Devi💙 So beautiful Swami saying that there is a joy appropriate for every situation, which must mean that even during difficult unhappy situations there is a joy God is giving to everyone and to me. I believe in my case is it the joy of feeling love and listening to His words for poetry. I will remember now that even if it seems impossible to feel that touch from God 🤗 His arms are around me and Divine Mother is singing to me a beautiful song🎶 I love you dear Devi and Jyotish 💙💙
Good 👍 good 😊 thanks ☺️ I’m veerender. Wonderful message . Most encouraging in the wilderness of mind and thoughts.
Currently l am nervous and l am exhausted . Your write up has risen positive thoughts in my mind . Mind indeed is ever powerful hence l am scared of the negative thoughts thats clouding my mind at present.
“I resolve to use the power of my mind to overcome all obstacles and accomplish my goals.” …Thank you Devi 🙏
Beautifully put forward. Gives an inspiration to move forward.
Dear Devi Maa!
Yes I remember Master being so thing
figured and was blessed with Divine grace and never had to worry about it anymore.
Looking forward to better New Year with Your blessings ..
Love 💕
Grace
Dear Nayaswami Devi ji,
Thank you for sharing this inspiring blog!
I listened to the Sunday Satsang on this topic that you gave a week ago. And it’s nice to read and reflect on it now.
Also thank you for the new podcast series ‘Touch more light’ . I’m very excited to listen and learn.
Joy,
Prem
Respected Mataji,
I wait for every Friday to see your and respected Shri Jyotishji’s writings in the blog. Believe me, both of you write in such lucid style which is a matter of attraction to me. Yes, turly said that our mind is the controller of every thing and it has such a power and if we can learn to utilise the power of mind, we can taste the touch of spirituality.
Thank you very much Mataji and awaiting many more fruitful spiritual writings from you and respected Shri Jyotishji in the future days to come.
Indranath Sinha
Kolkata, West Bengal
India
A powerful blog Devi Ji – wow !! thank you so much for writing it. I usually watch the short clips Ananda Worldwide makes of Sunday Satsang at the Village- quick doses of inspiration. watching and hearing you for those few minutes from last Sunday was simply awesome, so very uplifting and gave a mindset for me for the week. So many powerful statements/pointers in this blog – thank you dearest Devi Ji for writing it.
Wonderful affirmation “I resolve to use the power of my mind to overcome all obstacles and accomplish my goals.”