“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”- Nelson Mandela.
Ritesh Katare’s story begins in the quiet city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. A 32-year-old man of simple joys, Ritesh is an Assistant Manager at HIL, where his dedication and work ethic shine through his profession.
However, deep beneath a family man’s spreadsheets and daily responsibilities lies a journey of self-discovery lined with love, patience, and a steady commitment to personal growth.
Ritesh had a simple and happy childhood, nurtured by his loving family’s warmth and affection.
“I was an above-average student, but more importantly, I was surrounded by love and care from my parents, two sisters, and a brother in our joint family.”
His voice softens with emotions and pride when he speaks of his parents, who have always been his pillars of strength. In this environment, Ritesh first dreamed of becoming a cricketer, a passionate fire he pursued throughout his school years. However, the passion didn’t turn into a profession as the realities of adulthood set in his life.
In 2009, Ritesh fell in love, and ten years later, he married the same woman who had captured his heart. Together, they welcomed a beautiful daughter, who is now four years old this year.
“My family is everything to me. They are my greatest source of joy and strength.”
Gradually, life threw challenges Ritesh’s way. He was living alone due to work responsibilities and needed clarification with questions about his purpose and direction in life. These questions, coupled with unresolved past experiences, began to weigh heavily on his mind.
Around this time, Ritesh heard about YourDOST, which partnered with his workplace as its official mental health partner.
He was eager to find answers and regain control over his thoughts, so he decided to seek help from Ms Tanisha Aggarwal, his therapist.
Due to dearly personal reasons, he was forced to part ways with his loving family, which included his wife and daughter. He hasn’t been able to meet them for the past one and a half years, but he struggles every day to make his dream of them being under the same roof come true.
Ritesh even feels that however hard he tried to attain success in his professional front, he hasn’t been able to reach the summit as his wife and daughter aren’t with him to reap the fruits of his hardwork. He was bombarded with various questions about his stability and could not answer them for a long time.
“I had reached a point where I needed to understand myself better. Why am I here? What do I truly want from life? These questions kept haunting me.”
Ritesh sought answers to all the questions that kept whirlpooling through his mind. He kept getting caught up in his own world and often missed the beauty of the real one before his eyes.
Through therapy, Ritesh jumped on a journey of introspection and healing. He worked with Ms Tanisha, and they compiled a set of techniques to help him along with therapy.
“One of the techniques I learned was mindful walking, a simple practice that helped me centre my thoughts and find peace in the chaos.”
Another technique that he related to was goal writing. He had dabbled in this technique since 2008 but abandoned it over the years as that was something that wasn’t his forte. However, writing down his goals and aims over the years has brought him clarity and paved the way for a hopeful future.
“Writing down my personal and professional goals gave me clarity to move forward. It was like rediscovering a part I had lost along the way.”
Today, Ritesh acknowledges therapy’s profound impact on his life. From a shy young man who couldn’t distinguish between his thoughts and fears to categorising and understanding the meaning of each one of them, Ritesh has come a long way. He is happy and proud of his changes and excitedly shares them with us.
“Before therapy, I kept a lot of things bottled up inside. But now, I can talk about them openly, and that has helped me overcome those situations. It’s been a very liberating experience.”
Gratitude is prominent in Ritesh’s journey as he is extremely appreciative of the changes that therapy has brought about in his life. He shared how he is grateful to everyone he encountered on his journey.
“I’m thankful for everyone and everything in my life. Whether someone has done something good or bad to me, I’ve learned to accept it and move forward. I’m especially grateful to my therapist and doctors, who’ve been instrumental in my healing process.”
When asked to rate his progress, Ritesh gives himself a 4, acknowledging that improvement is an ongoing journey. For him, improvement is an unstoppable process, and there’s always room for growth and evolution.
In Ritesh’s case, this journey is just beginning, filled with hope, purpose, and a staunch commitment to living life to the fullest. All of us at YourDOST are honoured to be a part of his journey, and we wish him the best in the future!
Ritesh’s Warrior Tips:
1.“We need patience in any situation. Without it, life can quickly spiral out of control.”
2.“Everything that happens in life is there to help you, whether good or bad. A positive mindset and a heart full of gratitude can take you to a good place.”
3.“The best investment you can make is in yourself. Work on your mind, your emotions, and your well-being.”
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.
