Today is Diwali, the Festival of Lights, a celebration that holds a special place in my heart.
One of the beautiful meanings behind Diwali is the triumph of light over darkness.
And as I was thinking about that today, I found myself reflecting on something a little different.
What if we remembered that we, too, can BE the light?
What if we could offer ourselves some of the kindness, compassion, and understanding we've spent so much of our lives hoping to receive from others?
And what if that begins with something as simple as the words we say to ourselves?
Think about it.
How often do we say things to ourselves that we would never dream of saying to someone we love?
You're not doing enough. You should have known better. Why can't you get it right? You're not good enough. And sometimes, the most painful ones: You don't matter. Your voice doesn't matter.
I've been reflecting on this quite a bit lately, especially after a powerful coaching session where I became aware of just how much my own thoughts were affecting me, emotionally and even physically.
It reminded me that our inner dialogue matters.
And perhaps one way we can begin to be the light for ourselves is by becoming more aware of how we speak to ourselves.
What if we tried something different?
I'd love to invite you to do a little exercise this week.
Find a quiet moment, grab a piece of paper or a journal, and write yourself a letter.
But here's the twist.
Write yourself a letter listing what you wish someone else had said to you.
Think about the words you've been longing to hear.
Maybe you've wanted someone to tell you:
I see how hard you're trying. I know things haven't been easy. I'm proud of you. You don't have to carry everything on your own. Your feelings matter. Your voice matters. You matter.
Maybe there are things you wish someone had acknowledged, or experiences you wish someone had understood.
Perhaps you've been waiting for someone to give you permission to rest, to make a different choice, or simply to be yourself.
What if you didn't have to wait for someone else to say those words?
What if you could begin offering them to yourself?
Write that letter as though you're speaking to someone you deeply love. Because you deserve that same kindness, understanding, and compassion.
And when you're done, read it back to yourself. Notice what comes up.
Maybe it feels comforting. Maybe it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. Maybe it brings up emotions you weren't expecting.
Whatever you notice, allow yourself a little space to be with it. You don't have to believe every word immediately.
Sometimes, simply beginning to speak to ourselves differently is a meaningful first step.
And perhaps that's one small way we can begin to be the light for ourselves.
Speaking of writing things down…
I'm especially excited about our next gathering of The Village, where we'll be exploring the power of journaling with our guest speaker, Leigh Lincoln.
THE VILLAGE · SEASON 2 Finding Yourself with the Power of Journaling With guest speaker Leigh Lincoln
📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026
⏰ 8–9 AM PT / 11 AM–12 PM ET
💻 Virtual | FREE | Open to all women
Leigh is an author who believes in the power of writing to help us discover more about ourselves.
Together, we'll explore what journaling really is, how to begin even if you've never done it before, and how putting our thoughts on paper can help us build greater self-awareness and connection with ourselves.
Whether you're a longtime journaler or someone who has never picked up a journal, I'd love for you to join us.
Register here: https://wayfindingmoms.com/villagemembers
A little Diwali wish for you…
As we celebrate Diwali, my wish for you is that you remember something important.
You can be the light.
You can be the voice that says, I believe in you.
The one that says, I'm proud of how far you've come.
The one that reminds you, You matter.
And perhaps, as we learn to offer ourselves more kindness and compassion, we find that we have even more of it to share with the people around us.
Because the light we bring into the world can begin with how we treat ourselves.
Connection begins within. 💖
With love and light,