Mindful Movement Club 02: Words To Live By: Re-define Your Reality in 2025
As 2024 draws to a close, the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries have unveiled their words of the year: brain rot and manifest. Interestingly, these choices seem to sit at opposite ends of the spectrum. One conjures images of aimless scrolling, and digital overload, while the other tells a story of clarity, purpose, and intentional creation. Together, they reflect the dual nature of our times—a world where we’re increasingly dominated by technology yet yearning for meaning and direction.
The Spirit of the Year
Each year, Oxford and Cambridge choose words that encapsulate the cultural zeitgeist. Oxford’s brain rot refers to the feeling of ‘dumbing down’ that comes from the passive over-consumption of mindless digital content. It’s a term that resonates. If you’ve ever spent too much time on social media you know the feeling: your attention feels fragmented, and your time feels wasted in the pursuit of fleeting entertainment. In contrast, Cambridge’s manifest reflects the collective aspiration to take charge of our lives, set intentions, and bring our dreams into reality. This word speaks to a growing desire for agency and mindfulness amidst the chaos.
The Cure for Brain Rot
The stark contrast between these words highlights a fundamental tension in modern life. Brain rot implies a lack of intentionality—a life lived on autopilot, dictated by algorithms rather than conscious choices. Manifestation, on the other hand, is its antidote: a call to actively shape your reality through clear intentions and deliberate actions. For those of us who practice yoga, this contrast is a powerful reminder of the importance of mindfulness and self-awareness in navigating the challenges of life in the digital age.
Habits: A Yogic Perspective
In yoga philosophy, the mind is seen as a tool that can either uplift or ensnare us. Yoga encourages us to develop habits that increase self-awareness and foster a calm, clear balanced mind, enabling us to act with intention and in alignment with our highest values. Passive media consumption can become an unhelpful habit. In yogaspeak, this is called a samskara. Negative samskaras (habit)—such as the habit of doomscrolling —can perpetuate feelings of dullness, dissatisfaction or inertia, i.e. brain rot.
Sankalpa, or intention setting, is the antidote to an unhelpful habit (samskara). A sankalpa helps us consciously choose a new path, replacing unhelpful patterns with purposeful actions aligned with our highest values. By setting a sankalpa, we create a positive mental map that steers us toward clarity, balance, and fulfillment. Sankalpa is a way to manifest your reality.
Reach Your Goals: A Yogic Perspective
A sankalpa is a heartfelt vow or affirmation that aligns with your deepest values and aspirations. Unlike resolutions, which often focus on fixing perceived shortcomings, a sankalpa is rooted in self-compassion and a vision of your best self.
How to Choose Your Sankalpa for 2025
Reflect: Begin by carving out quiet time to reflect on the past year. What brought you joy? What challenges did you face? What qualities or values do you want to embody in the coming year?
Listen to Your Heart: Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and ask yourself: What is my deepest desire for 2025? Trust the words or feelings that arise.
Simplify: Choose a word or short phrase that encapsulates your intention. Some examples might include courage, connection, compassion, balance, growth, or presence.
Visualize: Imagine how living this sankalpa would feel in your daily life. Let this vision guide your actions and decisions throughout the year.
Revisit Regularly: Write your sankalpa down and revisit it often: first thing in the morning, throughout your day, and in moments of distraction or doubt.
YOU Set The Tone for your 2025
As we step into 2025, let’s remember: the quality of our lives is shaped by where we place our attention. By practicing mindfulness and being intentional we can cultivate a life that reflects our deepest values and aspirations.
Upcoming Workshops to Help You Be Your Best Self in 2025
February 22nd: The Growth Path: Science, Reflection, and Yoga In this session, we’ll explore the practice of sankalpa and yoga nidra to guide your journey forward and start your new year with clarity, purpose, and inspiration.
Let’s make 2025 a year of mindfulness.
