“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” – Rudyard Kipling.
We sometimes see words as mere tools of conversation, but their impact is often overlooked. Words can stop battles, spread happiness, and make us hopeful. Words can make poems and stories and have the power to tear down an entire empire. This is the story of a warrior who made words his sword in the battle and proclaimed victory at the end of it all!
Meet our protagonist for the day, Mr Ranganath, a 35-year-old HR manager at Aptean India Pvt Ltd.
With about 16 years of experience in HR, Ranganath has worked in all facets of HR, including business partnering, recruitment, and HR operations. He currently manages a global shared services team
Growing up in Bangalore, Ranganath lived with his mother, brother, and sister-in-law.
“I always find happiness in the little things that I do, and maybe that is my speciality.”
His jovial nature and love for life were evident in his many hobbies, including travelling, vlogging, gardening, and interior design. He also had a passion for anchoring and radio talking as he worked as an RJ and VJ during his college days.
Ranganath first heard about YourDOST from his workplace, which had partnered with the organisation as its official mental health partner. Here, he met Ms Sanjana Ali, who became his trusted counsellor.
“We were telling employees about the benefits they get, how they can solve their problems, and all that. However, not long after, I decided that maybe it’s time for me to seek help as well.”
Ranganath’s decision to seek help came during a rough patch in his life. He was experiencing significant stress on personal fronts.
One of his closest friends was battling cancer, and Ranganath himself was dealing with health issues, including a severe allergy that led to quarantine. This isolation and the compounded stress were absolutely overwhelming for him.
Around this time, Ranganath discovered the 8 a.m. affirmation messages offered by YourDOST. He began receiving these daily affirmations, slowly changing his outlook on life.
“I started seeing life differently. The first message that resonated with me was, ‘You are enough.’“
Though he had heard it before, seeing it in this context had a profound impact. Every day, Ranganath awaited the 8 a.m. affirmation message, setting an alarm just to ensure he would see it.
“I was not coming to the office, not talking to anybody, and was stressed. Seeing those affirmations made a lot of difference in my life.”
The affirmations became a beacon of hope and positivity in his otherwise challenging days. Ranganath began sharing these affirmations with his friend, who was battling cancer. He was also deeply touched by the messages and found solace in them during his difficult journey.
“When I met my friend a few days back, he told me that the affirmations had given him a lot of positive things to look forward to in life.”
Inspired by these affirmations’ impact on his life and friends, Ranganath started posting them on his WhatsApp status. He started a campaign for his self-motivation in the name of the “60 days self-motivation challenge” Eventually, he created a beautiful vlog integrating these affirmations, which resonated with his followers.
(Picture of Ranganath’s affirmation garden)
“My friend’s wife was about to take his friend to a psychiatrist because of the pain that he was going through from chemo. However, he started seeing life differently after this.”
His friend’s outlook improved, and he began to see a future beyond his illness. Ranganath also adopted several techniques shared by Ms Sanjana. One such technique involved choosing between right and wrong in a simple yet profound way.
“She gave me a simple example: You have two kinds of meals on your plate. One is something that you love, like chapati. The second one is a curry that you don’t like. Which one would you pick?”
This metaphor helped him prioritize his needs and make better decisions.
Sanjana also suggested venting emotions by writing them down or talking to a mirror, which provided Ranganath with much-needed relief.
He even incorporated this practice into his love for gardening by writing affirmations and sticking them to his plants. Through these practices and the daily affirmations, Ranganath experienced a complete transformation.
“Words are powerful. ‘You are enough,’ they are just three words. But it creates a huge difference in someone’s life who is going through a tough time. I just can’t thank the therapists and the YourDOST community enough for creating such beautiful, powerful words that can transform my life from the way I see it.”
In terms of feeling better, Ranganath rates himself a solid 5. Improvement for him means enjoying things and feeling happy in the little things.
His journey from stress and isolation to finding peace and happiness through daily affirmations and mental health support is truly inspiring.
We at YourDOST are confident that Ranganath’s story will inspire others to seek help and find their own path to happiness.
Ranganath’s Warrior Tips:
1.“Sometimes, we need to choose between what is right and what is wrong. Trust your instincts.”
2.“If you have something you can’t share with anyone, write it down or talk to yourself in the mirror.”
3.“Reach out to professional help even if it means ranting.”
Are you someone who has gone through a difficult phase and emerged stronger and better, with some professional help? Share your story with us to encourage thousands of others who might be struggling. Click here to submit your story.
