What resolution...

As we step into a new year, I can feel the sudden shift in consciousness with so many people suddenly becoming aware of the changes they want to make, the dreams they want to fulfill, the new healthy habits they want to form etc etc. There is so much noise and chatter about what we should do and what we hope to bring in for the new year. I often sit back and observe the reality of the situation, and ask myself why now, why all of a sudden, as the calendar year ticks over do we as humans suddenly begin to wake up and think about what is truly important, and are these resolutions manageable and most importantly sustainable. Ancient New Year's celebrations often focused on making promises to deities, celebrating the victory of a god, or realigning the calendar with astronomical or agricultural events, and in fact in many cultures, fireworks are used to scare away evil spirits and bad luck, in order to restart on a fresh slate.

Hindu New Year, also referred to as Nav Samvatsar, is celebrated according to the Hindu specifically during the month of Chaitra. According to Hindu tradition new year is not celebrated on the lunar calendar but instead the Gregorian calendar which is based on the Earth's revolution around the sun, Hence, the upcoming Hindu New Year 2025 will be on March 30. This period is not only a time for festivities, but also holds deep cultural and religious significance as it is believed to be the day when Lord Brahma created the universe.

This moment in time is a great opportunity to create our universe, to sit with ourselves in meditation, to truly listen to our bodies call, to quieten the loud chatter in our ever busy minds, and all the pressure we feel to do more, to be better, to want more. Before we jump straight into telling ourselves how to be better, look better, feel better and put plans into action, maybe lets just take a moment to just sit with the person you are right now. The person that has made it this far. The one who has helped you work through hardships and successfully helped you leap over countless hurdles. Think about the person that has triumphed and succeeded and maybe take a moment to recognise all of the ways you are already so much better than you realised. This is a time to hold yourself and recognise your strength, your courage, and your resilience. We often forget that we have the opportunity to start new with every new breath that we take, and rather than putting so much emphasis on the new year and trying to change the world, lets just stop and sit and be.

My recent holiday away to the Blue mountains gave me so much clarity, as I sat amidst the mountains I felt I was in the presence of ancient giants that hold so much history and so many stories. It was in that moment I realised just how insignificant we as humans are, and how we often make situations so much bigger than they need to be, that in fact what is big and important are the oceans, the mountains, the trees and the natural world that we live in. I realised that just by sitting, watching and breathing we can move through the giants that impact our minds sometimes, the repetitive thoughts, doubts, worries that bog us down. That we hold the universe inside, that we are the deities that should be worshiped because we matter, our health matters, our lives matter. Instead of making unreachable resolutions that, lets be honest often don't last, lets set intentions to just be kind, to treat the earth like one of our closest family members, and to continue to do the things that fuel our energy, and give us our spark.

Don't make things bigger than they need to be, surround yourself with nature and good people who give you a zest for life, and continue on being the masters of your universe. Practice Yoga and make each day truly wonderful and unforgettable, knowing there may be bumpy moments, our bodies might be showing signs of wear and tear but we have the ability to get through with each breath, moment by moment bit by bit we will get through, just like the mountains have stood the test of time, so will we with the right attitude and mindset we can do anything. Who needs a new years resolution anyway!