Diwali, the celebration of the Festival of the Lights, is a time to remember the light that is inside each of us. Every diya we light is a symbol of awakening, self-discovery, and reconnecting with love, which is the most important part of our lives.
Love is the basis of life and the source of everything else. We want to love and be loved, to feel appreciated and whole. Everything we do, whether in relationships, at work, or while chasing dreams, is driven by the longing for belonging. It is a search for meaning that goes far beyond recognition or achievement. Our inner light is the path to finding the love within. Just as the flame of a candle dispels darkness, the light of love dissolves fear, ego, and separation.
For years, I looked for love in the world through validation, acknowledgment, and acceptance. I sought it in relationships, achievements, and appreciation. The more I looked outside, the more I felt lost inside. One day, my mentor held a mirror up and asked me directly, how can I let go off my intense desire for external validation and learn to love myself?
That question was like a bright beam of light. It pushed me to look within and begin my journey of self-discovery. I realized that love was always within me, I needed to learn to trust myself. The more I learned to trust and love myself, the more I felt the peace and wholeness I had been looking for. As my presence expanded with compassion, my relationships too became more meaningful and loving.
This change is beautifully reflected in tradition of Diwali. The way we clean and decorate our homes to let in new light, we also need to clean our minds. When you let go of anger, pride, or expectations, you make room for happiness and kindness to come in. Nature too displays this phenomenon beautifully. In the fall, trees shed their leaves to get ready for new life. In the same way, when we let go of emotional clutter, the brighter our inner light shines.
Love is a universal binding force. It unites people, communities and humanity at large. When we take away all our roles and identities, the only thing left is pure love. Love has many expressions and languages. It isn't just big actions; we show it in our daily lives by being kind, caring, forgiving, and honest.
By anchoring internally, I have experienced the expansive love and joy within. You cannot demand love and happiness because it is our inherent state of being. When we live authentically, we naturally radiate peace, and we open the doorways to a life of abundance.
The Bhagavad Gita tells us that our true nature is pure consciousness, the light that never goes out. This light shines brightest when we act selflessly and unconditionally. Diwali honors this same truth: that knowledge wins over ignorance and the soul's brilliance wins over the darkness of illusion.
When we want to avoid pain, we often let our ego take control. The ego builds walls of pride, control, and power. Fearful of feeling hurt and rejected, I too had constructed such walls. I told myself, ‘it doesn’t matter’. Living in denial was just a way to protect myself from feeling vulnerable. I distanced myself to avoid being hurt, not realizing that I was distancing myself from love itself.
The light of self-awareness helped me break down the walls of pretense and allow love to flow. It reminds us that love comes naturally when we stop trying to control things. Every moment of awareness is like the sunrise that gently pushes the night away. The insights dispel the fear and bring clarity in life.
When we are aware, love comes naturally to us. Fear, anger, and other negative emotions are not our first reactions; instead, we understand and accept them. This is what it means to live in harmony with who we really are.
The brighter is the light of the candle, the further it spreads. By anchoring with your identity as pure consciousness, or Sat Chit Ananda, we can become an embodiment of love. When we meditate, chant, or even just walk quietly in nature, the silence helps us reconnect with our inner light. Just like the river that flows steadily through the valley, it doesn't hurry or push; it just flows, guided by trust. Love too is also patient, grounded, and always there. Embrace it, allow it to flow and expand like the ocean, infinite and deep.
Diwali reminds us to live with faith and become anchored in love. The more we live from place of love and light, the more we draw real relationships and meaningful experiences into our life. The voice of wisdom has helped me discover my purpose as a beacon of light, revealed creative ways to share that love and enriched my life with authentic relationships from across the world.
Lighting diyas on Diwali in every home is symbolic of collective consciousness. Let’s make Diwali a celebration of the victory of good over evil and light over darkness and bring families, friends, and communities together, and reminds us of the significance of staying connected.
Every act of forgiveness is a release of the past, and every act of kindness expands our capacity to love. Every time we put empathy ahead of our needs, we turn on a new light inside. We make room for peace every time we forgive. And every time we ‘do the right thing’, we make the connection between the outside world and our inner light stronger.
When we nurture love within, we not only brighten our own hearts but also spark joy and connection in the world around us. Learn how to strengthen these connections in your life in ‘Happiness for All: Reconnect and Build Your Community’
Love is the bridge between fear and faith. Diwali encourages us to return to this truth and let love be our guide, our light, and our home. As you light each diya this Diwali, take a moment to light one in your heart and make space for kindness and calm.
Choosing love, moment by moment, is the first step on the path to happiness and self-discovery. We don't just make our own lives better when we live from love; we also make the world around us better.
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