Hare Krishna!

Wishing you all a very happy and spiritually uplifting New Year!

At the start of each year, many of us don’t just wish for a New Year—we also long for a new me. A better version of ourselves, capable of creating a better future—not only for us but also for those around us. But how do we make resolutions that truly stick? And what guidance does the Bhagavad Gita offer in this journey of self-transformation?

To explore this, I’d like to share a simple acronym: C.A.R.D.
Just like we send New Year cards to others, let’s send a C.A.R.D. to ourselves—a gift of wisdom and determination to help us grow.

C – Contemplation

Often, when we fail to follow through on resolutions, we beat ourselves up:
“I just don’t have enough willpower!”
Maybe. But maybe not.
More than weak determination, it may be weak contemplation—we haven’t thought deeply enough about why that resolution matters.

Contemplation involves engaging our intelligence to envision the consequences of our choices. In Bhagavad Gita 3.43, Krishna urges us to use our intelligence to rise above the mind’s impulses and anchor ourselves in our spiritual identity.

Suppose I want to build a healthy habit, like daily reading of the Bhagavad Gita. Doing it for a day or two might not change much. But doing it daily for a year? I might not only finish the Gita, but read it twice—or even study several other spiritual books.

Contemplation helps us visualize the future:

  • What will my life look like if I consistently follow this resolution?

  • What will it look like if I don’t?

We can visualize both the positive trajectory of sustained progress and the negative consequences of ongoing neglect. For instance, wasting just one hour daily on social media or gossip adds up to 365 hours a year! What could I do with that time? Earn more? Learn more? Serve more?

So, contemplation helps us align our actions today with the future we want to create.

A – Association

Even with strong internal contemplation, the mind remains fickle. In Bhagavad Gita 3.42, Krishna outlines the hierarchy: senses < mind < intelligence < soul.
We strengthen the mind from within using intelligence—and from outside through association.

Association can support us in three ways:

  1. Peer Support:
    Team up with others who’ve taken similar resolutions. Create a WhatsApp group, check in regularly—“I read for 15 minutes today,” “I chanted for this long,” and so on. You’ll encourage each other in low moments and celebrate successes together.

  2. Mentorship:
    Find a guide who can offer wisdom, support, and if needed, a gentle push. A mentor can help you see beyond immediate struggles and realign with your higher goals.

  3. Setting an Example:
    When you express your resolutions publicly (not for pride, but with sincerity), it inspires you to live up to them. You may even become a role model for others.

Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita 10.9 that spiritual life becomes joyful when shared with like-minded souls. And in 2.62, He reminds us that association fuels desire. So, surrounding ourselves with people who uplift us can ignite and sustain our resolutions.

R – Retrospection

Despite all our best efforts, the mind may still slip.
Sometimes we slip—we momentarily fall short.
Sometimes we sleep—we forget our resolutions entirely and fall into old habits.

That’s where retrospection comes in.
The word “retrospect” means to “look back.” Not to blame ourselves—“I succeeded, so I’m great,” or “I failed, so I’m a loser”—but to understand what works and what doesn’t.

Ask yourself:

  • What helped me stick to the resolution this far?

  • What made me lose track?

  • Was this resolution too ambitious?

  • Can I modify my approach?

Retrospection helps us not just act better, but understand ourselves better—our triggers, our rhythms, our strengths. Sometimes, choosing which battle to fight is as important as how we fight it. Winning small battles can build the strength to take on bigger ones later.

So, if we don’t succeed as planned, let’s at least succeed in gaining insight—which prepares us to try again, smarter and stronger.

D – Devotion

We’ve talked about support from within (intelligence), from outside (association), and from behind (retrospection). Now let’s go above—to the divine.

Devotion connects us with a higher power, a higher purpose, and a higher taste.

In Bhagavad Gita 2.59, Krishna says that real peace and lasting restraint come not just from saying “no” to the lower, but from saying “yes” to the higher.
Devotion gives us a bigger vision: I’m not struggling alone. I’m a part of Krishna’s plan. I have divine potential. Krishna is with me—and He wants me to grow.

When we understand this, our resolution isn’t just about proving ourselves to others. It’s about fulfilling the sacred potential that God has placed within us. As Krishna says in 5.29, He is the well-wishing friend of all living beings. With Him on our side, we’re not just trying to change ourselves—we’re trying to serve and uplift the world around us.

So, devotion gives us:

  • A bigger vision: We are instruments of divine compassion.

  • A stronger foundation: Resolutions rooted in service, not ego.

  • A deeper transformation: God Himself empowers and purifies our mind.

When we stay connected with Krishna—through prayer, meditation, or service—we’ll find that our resolutions become more meaningful and more sustainable.

To Summarize – Send Yourself a C.A.R.D.:

  • C – Contemplation: Use your intelligence to visualize the long-term consequences of your choices.

  • A – Association: Find friends, mentors, and inspirations to stay on track.

  • R – Retrospection: Learn from every slip—not with judgment, but with curiosity.

  • D – Devotion: Connect with Krishna, the source of strength, guidance, and transformation.

When our resolutions are not just about self-improvement, but also about selfless contribution, we align with a power far greater than our own—and that makes a lasting change both within and around us.

May this New Year be not just a change in calendar—but a change in consciousness, and a step toward becoming the best version of yourself—in harmony with Krishna’s love and grace.

Thank you very much. Hare Krishna.