Self-Realization Fellowship Blog

An introduction:

Paramahansa Yogananda urged his followers to take full advantage of the coming of each new year, ripe with potential for personal growth and transformation, to wholeheartedly set their sights on achieving their worthwhile goals, and above all else aim for the highest of aspirations — freeing the soul from mortal limitations and allowing its infinite divine nature to blossom fully.

Below we present inspiration from Paramahansaji’s timeless wisdom on how each day can be just the chance your soul has been yearning for to create ever-increasing health, wisdom, and happiness in your life.
 

The Garden of the New Year

The echoes of last year, its sorrow and laughter,
Have died away.
The song-voice of the New Year — encouraging, hope-imparting —
Is chanting:
“Refashion life ideally!”

Abandon the weeds of old worries.
From the forsaken garden of the past
Garner only seeds of joys and achievements,
Hopes, good actions and thoughts, all noble desires.

Sow in the fresh soil of each new day
Those valiant seeds; water and tend them
Until your life is fragrant
With rare flowering qualities.

The New Year whispers:
“Awaken your habit-dulled spirit
To zestful new effort.
Rest not till th’ eternal freedom is won
And ever-pursuing karma outwitted!”

With joy-enlivened, unendingly united mind
Let us all dance forward, hand in hand,
To reach the Halcyon Home
Whence we shall wander no more. 

On our website you can read excerpts from a New Year’s Eve talk by Paramahansaji entitled “Make New Determinations: Be What You Want to Be!” — for more inspiration and practical guidance on cultivating your noblest ambitions in the year ahead.