Families that co-create together are often more bonded together even as change and life transitions happen. A sacred family intention or vision every year will help focus each individual on what’s important to the family. Right now this is especially significant as the past year and a half has been full of change and chaos for many.

Us humans organize around what is most expressed verbally and followed in the body…where attention goes, energy flows. A sacred family intention or vision every year will help focus each individual on what’s important to the family. Also, families that co-create together are often more bonded together even as change and life transitions happen. What is the key foundation, care and/or concern in your family? In other words, what does your family want to focus on in the next year or so? Right now this is especially significant as the past year and a half has been full of change and chaos for many.

Consider involving all your family members, even the young ones, to create a deep resolve (in my lineage Sankalpa*), a clear intention, or mission for the family. This statement can be your family’s North Star, a guiding light for how your family wants to interact and who you all are becoming as a unit. And as you look to create the future you want, your spirit guides and religious figures as well as ancestors are at your backs.

The foundational place to start is for each member to ask themselves the question, “What do I want?” This is a simple question, and not so easy for many of us. Especially for those of us raised by immigrant parents. There were responsibilities, “shoulds” and more. And in order to get past survival and into thriving, we need to ask ourselves and each other this vital question.

You can further elaborate the questions to “What are you called to do?” or What & who do you deeply care about?”  And the first step is to Center on You. Each individual can come up with their personal statement. Certainly, the younger ones will need some guidance. You can ask them, what brings smiles & joy & where do they see themselves after another year older.

The next step is to listen open heartedly to each of those intentions. Then the family can get together, preferably in nature like on a walk, in a park, or even in the backyard. You can list the silver linings that came out of the pandemic. And you can list the things that were hard & the things you missed during this past year plus.

Then ask everyone to close their eyes for a few minutes and envision how you want the family to interact together as well as be of service to others in the next six months, year, or more. Then have them imagine their ancestors & religious guides have a gentle hand on their backs. From there everyone can write down what came to them individually and have a spacious family discussion around that (while leaving judgement inside the square walls)!

As each family member listens deeply with their whole Being on what each other shared, new insights will emerge. Then a statement such as “We the beloved _____ family are ________”. The sentence should be in the present tense as the seed is already planted and needs to be nourished to grow. It can be an affirmation.

A broad example could be, “We the Singh family are devoted to relaxing into our lineage as we connect from our hearts in service to fairness.” Then beneath the statement can be specific actions to complete to forward the deep resolve. For this example, actions could be 1)Sharing stories about ancestors and family members weekly starting the first of next month, 2)Hearing daily each family member’s rose (highlight of day), thorn (lowlight of day), and leaf (a neutral part) starting this week 3)Devote one day a month to serve those that are untapped or oppressed, starting in the fall.

What is your family’s vision for how you stay connected as lives get more busy (and possibly more uncertain)…and how you come back together again and again as the children grow? Get started now.

*Sankalpa: Sanskrit roots san, meaning “a connection with the highest truth,” and kalpa, meaning “vow.”It is a deep affirmation/intention that you/your family are Becoming (sometimes by undoing!)

Anjali Sawhney, who was born in India and raised in Los Angeles, works with families and individuals via Zoom (and in an outdoor office). She is a Certified Integral Life Coach from New Ventures West (2005) in San Francisco & a trained Leadership Embodiment Teacher (somatic coaching: based on Aikido & Mindfulness, 2010). She received her BS in Engineering at UCLA and an MBA at USF. Anjali knows her education is a privilege not afforded to many. Anjali has coached and led workshops for hundreds in corporate, non profit, and educational settings. In the past, she worked with Van Jones and his team on his & Dream Corps’ Social Justice initiatives; she also directly serves untapped BIPOC students, those unhoused, and those in recovery. Anjali loves nature, spiritual teachings, funky music & dancing; sometimes she is allowed to groove with her teenagers, Aanika and Jai.