by Audrey Sutton Mills
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by Audrey Sutton Mills
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Asato Ma Sad Gamaya Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya Mrtyor Ma Amritam Gamaya
From the unreal lead me to the real
From darkness lead me to light
From (fear of) death lead me to (the knowledge of) immortality
Om shanti shanti shanti
To honor and rejoice the homecoming of their king, Lord Ram, the people of his kingdom lit his path with oil lamps to guide him on his way. Thus began the tradition of decorating homes and public spaces with earthenware oil lamps (diyas) to mark the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness. The five-day celebration became known as Diwali, the festival of lights, which is a much-loved festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains throughout the world. The festival ushers in a period of merriment – a time to revel in the company of loved ones, dress up and gorge on delicious dishes prepared for the event. Diwali is also a time for reflection, a time to re-visit and judge impartially, ones thoughts, actions and words and to rid oneself of the darkness and negativity that dwells within.
In this 5 day celebration, here are 5 ways to celebrate, reflect and find hope:
- Be Present. So many times our thoughts, emotions are living in the past or the future. Either we are worrying about something we may or may not have control of, or we are analyzing something from the past (again, that we don’t have control of). Why do we torture ourselves!
- Be the observer. Sit in silence and observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment or attachment to them. Be kind to yourself when watching your thoughts. Your mind is very powerful. Notice how often your thoughts keep pulling you in and needing to be fed. Where are you thoughts now? Are they in the negative, the past, the future? Are they criticizing, judging, analyzing? By being present and having friendly awareness, you can create space between you and each thought, each emotion and each sensation. This space helps to relieve some of the weight and heaviness in order to reveal the truth rather than what our mind sees as the truth.
- Be grateful. Gratitude helps to shift focus from negative thoughts or circumstances in our lives. If you are a truly grateful, there can be no resentment or anger or judgment. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. Because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” You may think I’m crazy, but you can extend gratitude for negative things that have happened in your life. These experiences have also helped shape you to become the person you are today. Are you truly grateful?
- Be graceful. This is a tricky one. I teach this in my yoga classes, to practice the asanas (poses) with grace rather than with perfection. Practice slowly and thoughtfully, completely being in the moment and feeling the pose from within instead of jumping into the pose and straining. Many times it is easier to attain a pose simply by exhaling and letting go rather than staining. Similarily, when we are off the mat, we can be quick to strive to attain rather than doing things thoughtful and with purpose. Sometimes our yoga practice is rough and we need to be compassionate with ourselves without judgment. So, in our daily life to be graceful is to be compassionate, thoughtful and understanding not only to others, but also to ourselves.
- Be free. Acceptance is a huge part of life. Suffering is when we cannot accept a circumstance, whether it is in the past, present or future. Life isn’t always zen or disaster. It’s usually somewhere in between the highs and the lows. Typically, we strive to stay on the high rather than being okay with a low moment. I assure you, this low moment won’t last long. When you accept where you are at today, this helps cultivate gratitude and even happiness. Happiness is not the absence of problems; it’s the ability to deal with them. Be free from your worry and celebrate this present moment. Celebrate all of the people in your life. Celebrate the little things like the simple act of breathing. Just Celebrate!
Diwali is a time of reflection, hope, freedom and celebration. This reflection and celebration can extend across denominations, religions and nations. In the United States, we celebrate Thanksgiving, which is my favorite Holiday, a time to be thankful for families, food and freedom. With the celebration of Diwali and with Thanksgiving just around the corner, make a habit of empathy not only for yourself, but also to others. Can you also extend love, compassion and empathy to those in need? Give thanks, rejoice and reflect….and then grab a second plate of stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Happy Diwali everyone!
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YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.
&
YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.
&
YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.
&
YOU ARE ENOUGH
YOU MATTER!
COME HOME TO YOURSELF,
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
YOUR SOUL AND YOUR TRUTH.
HEY SOUL SISTER!
I’m Audrey | Yoga Instructor, Soul Mentor, Podcaster, Writer & New Mom
I know what it’s like to feel unfulfilled, alone, and not good enough. I’ve taken the hard journey of leaving a life I thought I wanted to discover the life I was destined to live. I’m here to help YOU walk the path of deeper self-love to the person YOU are meant to be. It’s my mission to inspire you to whole-heartedly love yourself, embody your worth and live your most expansive life. Take it from someone who’s been there.