American Author Madeleine L’Engle once said “A self is not something static, tied up in a pretty parcel and handed to a child, finished and complete. A self is always becoming.”
The experiences that we live through are what keeps us in a constant state of change and growth. The people we are today will be different from the people we’ll be tomorrow.
Here’s the story of Sujatha (name changed), a warrior who decided to work on improving herself and did not let anything hold her back from growing into a better version of herself with every passing day.
Sujatha is a 22-year-old hardworking and passionate individual belonging to a family of four. She pursued her Bachelor’s in Law from Hidayatullah National Law University and is currently working in Mumbai.
With a thirst for exploration and adventure, she involves herself in various hobbies including reading books, travelling, and trekking.
“I’ve always felt close to my family. Alongside me, they have grown to be extremely supportive and accepting of who I am.”
The experience of heartbreak is something that no one wants to go through. However, sometimes it is inevitable but that does not negate the fact that it can be painful and draining.
“My partner and I had broken up, and I was struggling with the reality of not having him anymore. I suddenly felt like I had a void in my life.”
During tough times like this, we look to our loved ones for comfort and support. Unfortunately for Sujatha, this happened at the same time that she had stopped talking to one of her best friends.
The loneliness after this loss started creeping in, turning seconds into hours.
“I was waiting for the next bad thing to happen. I couldn’t find anything to look forward to, and it made me feel very helpless. I knew I had to talk to someone but I didn’t know who would be able to help me.”
It was at this time in the year 2020 that Sujatha remembered that her university had a partnership with YourDOST, as their emotional wellness partner, and she decided to give therapy a try with her counselor, Ms. Rakshita.
“I started feeling better right after my first therapy session. Ms. Rakshita helped create such a safe and comfortable space for me to share my deepest feelings and insecurities.”
At a time of darkness when Sujatha was heartbroken from the loss of these two people, Ms. Rakshita appeared as a spark of hope for her.
“I knew I needed a safe space to vent, but what I didn’t realise was the amount of clarity I would get through counseling. Ms. Rakshita emphasized that I needed to stop blaming myself in order to heal from the pain I was experiencing.”
Just as a camera’s lens becomes clearer after a careful cleansing, therapy helps you wipe away the smudges from your mental lens, allowing you to look at your life with much more clarity. Rakshita shares that it is this clarity that has helped her move forward in her journey.
Ms. Rakshita assisted Sujatha with various techniques which helped her cope with her anxiety and feelings of loneliness.
“One thing that made a world of difference for me was meditation. It helped me calm my mind, and focus on things that truly mattered to me.”
Sujatha mentions that she also practised positive self-affirmations and consciously made an effort to be kinder to herself. This, according to her, was one of the most crucial steps in her healing process.
Like the rising sun, Sujatha’s life had lightened up with the clarity and comfort that her therapist helped her with. She continues to follow the techniques Ms. Rakshita gave her and is always on an upward climb toward growth.
In terms of feeling better, she rates herself a 4 out of 5 and is determined to continue blossoming into her fullest and most vibrant self.
Sujatha’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Learn to enjoy your own company. Self-care is a very important investment in your life that can help you with being happy on your own.”
2.“You don’t have to go through something tragic to get help. Therapy is a great tool to help you get clarity on situations, and have someone to listen to you.”
