Self-Inquiry and the Practice of Long-Term Change

The turning of a new year inspires us to think about the longer arc of life. We may take for granted our ability to reflect on the past and envision the future, but in doing so, we can sustain long-term pursuits such as working towards better health, cultivating mutually supportive relationships, seeking lifelong learning, and making a positive difference in the world.

Along with this contemplation comes another truth: most of us have lived long enough to know that even our most heartfelt intentions are easily interrupted. Daily demands, old habits, fatigue, stress, and unexpected challenges all affect what we ultimately do. The gap between what we want for ourselves and how we actually live can feel discouraging, even beyond our control.

We can’t force ourselves to override this gap, at least not for long. At the moment we decide whether to do A or B, much of the drive that motivates behaviour arises from brain systems that operate largely outside conscious awareness, with decisions even occurring before we are aware of them. These systems operate by anticipating the reward of our actions, weighing the effort we’ll put into them, and directing our attention and energy towards the “chosen” path.

So, how do we prevent our drive from trickling away from our long-term goals towards short-term gain? Is it something we can influence? Yes (fortunately), but not directly, but still effectively. Our motivation towards a goal is affected by whether we take time to notice progress, envision desired outcomes, and consider how our values align with our goals.

These are conscious processes of self-reflection that keep our intentions alive by resetting our unconscious decision matrices, so our actions toward them can flow more naturally.

Have you ever felt that when a goal begins to slip, you turn away from it to avoid a feeling of guilt? This is a key moment, a place you can be courageous and compassionate. Maybe you weren’t able to act towards it today or this week. Maybe you’ve been sick, or the kids are sick, or work threw a new project at you. First, it’s okay that you’re not acting on the goal in real-time right now. What’s needed instead is to reflect on your goal: envision desired outcomes and how the goal aligns with your values. There’s no need to feel guilty! You are doing the work by keeping the goal alive and even changing it if it doesn’t align with your values as you originally thought.

Yoga offers many moments for contemplation: while centering at the start of class, breathing into a posture, before slipping into savasana, or as you bring your hands to heart-centre at the end of class. These pauses are times of reflection and awareness.

Yoga also offers the opportunity for self-regulation, which is another instrument of working towards long-term goals. As a movement practice, it gives us repeated chances to meet effort, sensation, and occasional discomfort with awareness. We learn to distinguish between what is helpful and what is harmful, when to stay, and when to soften. These are not abstract skills. They translate directly into daily life, affecting how we respond to challenge and work towards longer-term rewards.

Yoga is not something you make yourself do. It is a way of building a more attentive relationship with yourself, one that helps bridge intention and action.

As you enter the new year, we invite you to choose just one meaningful goal to work with for the next month. Let this goal be something you return to on and off your mat. Something that’s not about yoga, but that your practice can be an instrument to support the goal. Let yoga be a place where you check in, recalibrate, and remind yourself why this goal matters. Then, when off the mat, perhaps before bed or over morning coffee. Remember, the work is taking place even if you are not “doing something” about it today. The doing comes from the underlying patterns you are establishing.

We are here to support you in this process, through movement, reflection, and shared space. If you would like help choosing classes, adapting your practice, or talking through what you are working toward, please reach out. We wish you the best in 2026.

With warmth,
Karen & Chris