What did you gift yourself this Diwali?

Diwali or Deepawali, also known as the festival of lights, is the most important Hindu festival celebrated across India and in many other parts of the world.

Colorful lights are illuminated to welcome the Goddess of wealth and prosperity. New clothes are purchased. Spring cleaning is done with a vengeance. Many cook savories and sweets. It is also the night when families get together and pray together.

And of course, exchange gifts.

In the midst of all these festivities and celebrations, I hope you remembered to gift yourself as well.

Here are a few gifts that you can choose from:

#Gift of self-love

“I have just joined this incredible company and I know I was selected for my experience and expertise. However, I feel so inadequate. I keep asking myself why I came here, I don’t know so many things. How will I ever deliver? What if I fail?”

Sounds familiar, does it not? Imposter syndrome or the act of not believing in yourself is common. Many of us experience it at some stage in our professional careers. It stems from low self-esteem and our lack of confidence in our own capabilities.

This festival, gift yourself the gift of self-love, which includes, self-care and self-awareness as well. Be patient and kind to your failings and mistakes. Believe in your worth and what you bring to the table. You are unique and your contributions to your profession matter.

#Gift of positive new thoughts

Often, we get strangled by the cobwebs of our own negative thinking. That has the power to pull one down and bring in a sense of despondency that can quickly spiral into depression.

A 2016 research study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that women who were optimistic had a significantly reduced risk of dying from several major causes of death over an eight-year period, compared with women who were less optimistic.

It is said that whatever you hold consistent in your mind, will come true. When you are consumed with negative thoughts, it does not take long for bad moments to rush in. The opposite is true as well. When you focus on the positive, you open new doors of opportunities and solutions.

Be aware of your thoughts and capture the negative ones before you act on them.

#Gift of reflection

Life, at times, can be a roller coaster. Things come hurtling at a speed often catching us unaware. The power of pause is a powerful tool that we can gift ourselves this festive season. A pause can help us reflect on the situation that can lead to better responses.

Take some time off daily to reflect on the good things that have happened over the day and stay with those feelings for a while. There is no need to be in a hurry all the time. The world will not end if you take a pause.

#Gift of starting anew

Diwali is the time to clear the dirt and muck away. Not just from our homes but also our minds. Learn to let go of past disappointments, anger, hurt, anguish, and pain.

May be journaling is your style. Or talking with a friend. Or reading self-help books. Whichever mode you chose to begin anew, remember it takes time to cultivate a new habit and foster a new mind-set. There is no magic wand out there that can make old thinking disappear. To make room for new thinking, we need to let go of the old thought processes.

Diwali is the beginning of a new life and the celebration of new beginnings.

What did you finally gift yourself then this Diwali?

The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

Sarita Bahl

Sarita Bahl is an alumnus of Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the Swedish Institute of Management Program. An experienced and versatile leader, she comes with nearly four decades of professional experience. She has over the years successfully overseen the communications and public affairs function and led the corporate social responsibility strategy for Bayer South Asia, Pfizer, and Monsanto, among others. Sarita has held multiple roles across diverse industries, the public sector, trade associations, MNCs, and the not-for-profit sector. Her areas of interest include advocacy, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, and communications.

As an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Senior Practitioner (Mentoring) from the European Council of Mentoring and Coaching (EMCC), Sarita specializes in career transition, inner engineering and life issues. Sarita enjoys writing and is passionate about animals, books, and movies.