A Gentle New Year: Choosing Peace, Choosing Waheguru

Hello my dear friends,

As the New Year comes closer, there is always this feeling in the air—that we should become someone new, do better, be stronger. But if I am honest with you, this past year was not easy for me. It was tremendous in its lessons, yet still very difficult.

There were losses. Some people drifted away, some connections broke, and some loved ones left this world forever. And somewhere in between all of this, I lost parts of myself—only to slowly find them again.

This year taught me to choose peace over chaos. To sit with myself without running away. To be alone, yet not lonely—because the only connection I truly wanted was with the Almighty. The One who does not live outside us, but within us.

Turning Inwards

There comes a point when nothing outside truly comforts you—not distractions, not social media, not even words. And then you begin to realise how temporary everything is. Things you once thought were yours to hold on to were never meant to stay forever. Maybe you outgrow them. Maybe you are being prepared for something else.

That is exactly what this year felt like to me.

And that is when you turn inward.

You start feeling Waheguru—not as someone far away, but as a presence within you. Calm. Steady. Silent, yet always listening.

As we step into the New Year, I pray that you connect with this Almighty within you. May this year bring peace and warmth to your soul. May Waheguru gently apply love to every part of you that still hurts. Open your heart, surrender softly, and allow divine love to enter where pain once lived.

Because I did.
And even though the pain was still there, something stronger settled within me—faith in the Almighty.

Letting Go of Worry

We worry so much about the future—about what will happen, what might go wrong, what we might lose.

“Nanak chinta mat karo, chinta tis hi he.”
Nanak says, do not worry—the One who created you is taking care of everything.

This line lives very close to my heart. Choosing one favourite line from Gurbani feels unfair, because every shabad carries healing. But this one gently reminds me that I was never meant to carry everything alone.

Let me share something personal.

Once, I had planned everything for my podcast—future episodes, content, timelines. Everything was ready for the next few months. I felt accomplished, almost like I had won a small war with my fears and doubts. And then, in the very next moment, my laptop’s battery completely gave out.

All the work I had planned to complete in two weeks came to a sudden halt. It took nearly two weeks for my laptop to return. That pause made me realise something deeply—Waheguru was asking me to slow down, to relax, and to trust His plan instead of clinging so tightly to my own.

When you truly understand this, something inside you softens. You stop fighting life so hard.When Faith Feels Quiet

There are times when faith does not feel strong or loud. Sometimes you sit in silence, unable to pray, unable to explain what you feel. And that is okay.

Even in that quietness, the connection is not broken. Waheguru hears what the heart cannot say.

Spirituality does not always look like discipline or routine. Sometimes it simply looks like showing up.

Gentle Anchors for the New Year

Instead of heavy resolutions, I want to share a few soft practices—things you can return to when life feels overwhelming.

Nitnem, without pressure
Even 20 minutes is enough. Let Nitnem feel like companionship, not a task. A Naam journal can help you track your practice gently, without guilt.

Waking up earlier, with kindness
Amritvela is beautiful, but begin softly. Even waking up at 5 or 6 a.m. is a blessing. Do not rush your mornings. Sit in silence. Breathe. Be kind to yourself.

Naam in everyday moments
While walking, cooking, or feeling anxious—remember Waheguru. Naam does not need perfect conditions, only sincerity.

Your Cup of Peace

Choosing yourself is not a bad thing.

Let me share one more moment. There was a time when everything around me felt chaotic—my routine was completely uprooted. Yet, with Waheguru’s grace, I made sure to sit with my one cup of tea or coffee, peacefully, just for myself.

That small moment became my anchor.

My dear friends, you deserve that too.
You deserve your cup of peace.

Gentle Guidance for the New Year

As we step into the New Year, instead of making strict resolutions, I invite you to choose intentions—guidance for the soul rather than rules for the mind.

Choose peace, even when chaos feels familiar.
You do not have to react to everything. Silence, distance, and prayer are also responses.

Trust divine timing.
What is delayed is not denied. Waheguru prepares us quietly before blessings arrive openly.

Release the need to control everything.
Make plans, yes—but hold them lightly. When something pauses or changes, trust that there is wisdom in it.

Protect your energy.
Not every conversation deserves access to you. Not every opinion needs a reply. Guard your inner calm.

Return to Naam when the mind feels heavy.
Even one repetition is enough to bring you back home.

Allow yourself to rest without guilt.
Rest is not laziness; it is repair. A tired soul cannot hear divine guidance clearly.

Be gentle with your healing.
You do not need to be fully healed to be worthy of love, joy, or grace.

Practice gratitude, even on ordinary days.
Some days the blessing is simply that nothing went wrong.

Choose yourself without apology.
Saying no does not make you selfish. Choosing peace does not make you weak.

Surrender the outcome.
Do your part with honesty, and leave the rest to Waheguru.

A Simple New Year Prayer

Waheguru,
walk with me into this New Year.
Calm my mind when it rushes ahead,
soften my heart when it grows tired,
and remind me—again and again—
that I am never alone.