Teentalk

It sounds like a wonderful thing to do, and we wish many times that we could just do that. But what it means? Our true self is who we really are when we let go of all of the labels, and judgments that we have placed upon ourselves. It is who we naturally are without the masks and posing. Your authentic self is the real you which goes beyond all of those conditioned beliefs and thinking patterns that you have gathered throughout your life. Below are some steps that may help in uncovering your real nature:

• Stay connected with your inner child: If you ever observe small children, you will notice just how free they are and how least they care about what other people think of them. They are happy and in their true natures; Children are just pure love and light. If you really want to connect with your inner child, become freer. Play, have fun, enjoy the moment. We play roles which are appropriate to society and we suppress our true nature out of fear of what others think. If you find yourself thinking about being judged, remember that is merely just the socialized you, not the real you.
• Get aware of your thoughts:  You may be shocked by the amount of negative thoughts that run through your mind on any given day. Our reality shapes based on all of these conditioned thinking patterns. Become aware of the quality of your thinking. Allow yourself to sit quietly every morning for just five to ten minutes. Thoughts will come off and on, but just allow them to do that without getting attached to them. Just observe them and when you are finished, continue observing the mind throughout the day. Becoming more aware of the quality of your thoughts, can help in revealing your true nature.
• Follow your intuition: This is probably one of the most important things in being yourself. When you start following the little nudges and impulses that you get, you will have jumped onto the magic carpet ride of awesomeness. When you get into the habit of doing this with small things, it will make it easier to say yes to the big things.
• Stop focusing on your past: Take a step back and breathe. Don’t forget the framework of your behavior and remember to place them in the past. Your previous decisions and behavior, although impactful, do not define who you are, much less who you will evolve into as you grow into a fuller person. It’s unhealthy to keep distressing yourself for things that you did in the past. Participate in the art of letting go and moving on.
• Avoid comparing yourself: As you try to understand who you are as an individual, it will be appealing to compare yourself to others. We are surrounded by more beautiful and more successful version of ourselves and those alone can knock down our self-confidence and send us circling into mimicry. However, doing this will only suppress your growth and prevent you from discovering your true self.

Experience life in all potential ways; good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light or summer-winter. Experience all the contrasts. Don’t be afraid because the more experience you have, the more mature you get. Don’t force it and you’ll find that things will naturally start falling into place.

“Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.” ~Alan Watts

The real beauty & greatness of Indian culture could be seen in its festivals. There is something unique about all the festival. As a teenager you might definitely recall, how elders have stories to tell you about history & origin of every festival. Festivals are all about spending time with friends & family, lots of food, new clothes and tons of fun. Perhaps, How as a smart teenager  can you make festivals special for those who might be lacking resources? Try to be a humble & smart person since teenage who thinks to make a beautiful Diwali for all apart from himself. I am sure when you go out for shopping, your parents always take the best things for you. As a teen in true sense you will be promoting kindness & spread diversity by trying to make Diwali beautiful for others.

Give food to people who sleep hungry

Teenagers are fond of eating a variety of food items, & when it is Diwali time the range goes to indefinite. Eat healthy & enjoy the festival. Apart from this, visit a nearby slum area or orphanage to donate some sweets or food to the teenagers & kids their. Trust me you will be able to feel extreme happiness & satisfaction within. 

Donate Clothes in which you don’t fit now

In almost every festival, teenagers either get new clothes as gifts or purchase them. Here is a great opportunity to donate your old clothes. The only condition is old clothes are worth being worn by anyone, basically clothes which might be tight to you or you do not use them now. In this way, some poor kid would be able to wear a new cloth in Diwali.

Fill colours in lives by taking rangoli colours from street vendors.

Also purchase diyas & decoration items from the street sellers, rather than taking them from malls. This will definitely make it possible for street sellers to get basic essentials for themselves for Diwali. So in short this is one way how you are helping them in celebrating Diwali.

Bring light to lives by giving some crackers

As a teenager, everyone loves exploring crackers. It is actually most attractive part of Diwali for teens & kids in house. So enjoy it to the fullest, but make sure to be safe. And secondly there are some underprivileged kids who often couldn’t get crackers. So here you can be a source of light in their lives. Make their Diwali beautiful by donating maybe 40% of your crackers & feel the happiness you would be able to spread.

Have a happy & prosperous Diwali with your friends & family. Festivals give you chance to be creative & happy at the same time, utilize it to the fullest. And as a teenager for now make yourself & your family proud of you by bringing joy & light to others life also. This will surely pave the way towards a stronger you in future. And you will be able to understand the true sense of Indian culture & festivals.