January '26
After taking the fall season off from writing and sharing my mantra I’m diving back in as a commitment to myself to tap back into my values and community connection.
I actually decided against New Years Resolutions this year and instead am beginning the new year resting more, snuggling more and honoring what I already am and what I already have.
Everywhere I turn, something is telling us to change. Products. Information. Fear. I feel overwhelmed by social media — where 3 out of every 5 stories are ads telling me to buy something so I can be a better mother, a younger-looking woman, or finally erase my cellulite. When really, all I want is to see what my best friends are up to and which soccer game my godson is playing. And all of this exists alongside the constant hum of fear — the news, the violence, the inhumanity unfolding in real time — coming at us from every direction, wedged between the most ridiculous and insignificant ads.
IT’s TOO MUCH
So instead of feeding into the racket that I need more to be more -do more to have more-I am heading back to our tried and true yogic principles of the Yamas & Niyams where I try to connect and live in alignment with the principles. The two I am focusing on at the moment are: -
Wise use of energy/moderation (Brahmacharya- in the modern context) and
Non grasping/ releasing excess (Aparigraha).
And with these two principles, my mantra has become: I Don’t Need that
With every ad that targets me- “I don’t need that”; with over consumption of excess news of violence & hate- “I don’t need that”. In writing this, I fully acknowledge my privilege in being able to choose to not ingest more news than I need to protect my mental health. Not everyone has that choice- that ability. I find it extremely important to stay informed and find our individual ways to contribute to the wellbeing of our communities while standing up for truth and Justice. However- taking in too much, becoming too attached, obsessed, addicted to the constant stream of news, violence, consumerism is not going to help. We don’t need that.
We need each other.
We need to connect. To acknowledge we are not alone in the pressures and fear of the country and world. We need less time on our devices and more time together, in community, supporting each other and simply being together.
The Yama and Niyama principles speak to how we engage and be in relationship with others as well as ourselves and therefore be a beneficial presence in the world.
By choosing to engage less with what makes me feel less, I choose to practice not taking in more than what I need, whether it be stuff, food, drink, media. And I instead am working to do what I believe I do best- teach, connect, encourage peace.
In a time where we can feel so helpless as to what we can do- remember what you have, what you are good at and lean into those values in your life. Connect with your community. Encourage peace through checking in with your values. And ask- What is it that I really need right now? It most likely isn't more stuff- its more self care and connection.
Sending so much love.
Peace, Margot
The Yamas
How we relate to the world around us (social ethics)
Ahimsa — Non-violence
Kindness in thought, word, and action toward others and ourselves.
Satya — Truthfulness
Living and speaking truth with care and discernment.
Asteya — Non-stealing
Not taking what isn’t freely given—time, energy, credit, or material goods.
Brahmacharya — Wise use of energy
Moderation; directing life force toward what nourishes and sustains us.
Aparigraha — Non-grasping / non-possessiveness
Letting go of excess, attachment, and the need to control.
The Niyamas
How we relate to ourselves (personal observances)
Saucha — Cleanliness
External and internal purity—body, space, thoughts, intentions.
Santosha — Contentment
Cultivating gratitude and enough-ness, even amid difficulty.
Tapas — Discipline / Sacred effort
The heat of commitment that fuels growth and transformation.
Svadhyaya — Self-study
Reflection, inquiry, and learning—studying texts and the self.
Ishvara Pranidhana — Surrender to something larger
Trusting life, the divine, or a higher intelligence beyond the ego.