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Intention-setting this Diwali season.
Hi, all. I hope you are doing well and thank you for clicking into my first blog post. I find it only fitting to start something new on this beautiful holiday that signifies new beginnings and (my interpretation) a breath of fresh air.
Diwali represents the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness. Reflecting on this simple description, and using the soft, golden twinkle of Diwali lights around my staircase as inspiration, I am setting three intentions for my upcoming year:
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#1: To consume less, and create more
I recently heard a perspective that happiness and meaning in life comes from making progress. I am a perfectionist at heart, but this year, I intend to build a muscle of creating, learning, and moving forward toward my goals even when watching TV or scrolling through social media seems like the easier or safer choice. This is, in large part, the purpose of my blog and Instagram page — to have a platform dedicated to my own artistic / personal growth journey and connect with others on that basis.
#2: To create space in my mind for new ideas, thoughts, and actions
Much like the reset experienced through cleaning our homes, organizing our finances, or wearing new clothes during this holiday, I hope to declutter my mind of any rumination and self-doubt. Instead, I will learn to focus only on what I can control and trust that I’ll find the ideas, decisions, or solutions meant for me, when the time is right.
To help with this intention, I’ve created a meditation challenge for myself. Look out for a post on if and how it helped at the end of this month.
#3: To recognize ego-based behaviors and shift to a more positive alternative
I have yet to read a more compelling book than A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle. While discussing the ego and its manifestations through our daily emotions and behaviors, Tolle mentions that where there is awareness (consciousness) of the ego, the ego can no longer exist. I don’t claim to be the most spiritual person — but this year, I choose to observe my thought patterns and swap the likes of fear, anxiety, or inertia with courage, calm, and, compassion.
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I think of intentions, by nature, as broader ideas to not even achieve, but become over time. By declaring the thoughts highlighted above, I am giving myself a sense of direction regarding how I want to show up for myself going forward. In reading my thoughts, I hope you found something that resonated with you. If you choose to set intentions and would like to share, I am always open to conversations with friends new and old.
For now, I’m signing off on one note:
Happy Diwali and Sal Mubarak to my family, friends, and all those celebrating. May your year ahead, and every year following, be filled with love, light, and laughter.
