An open letter to the ones who are scared of how they might be perceived

An open letter to the ones who are scared of how they might be perceived.

What if people think I am too weird or ecstatic to be around as a person? What if others think I am too much, too much passion, too many emotions, too strong, too opinionated, and not a cool person to hang out with? I wish I could say that I haven't said that, I am oblivious to feeling insecure, bothered or sabotaging my self-belief from time to time. But truth be told, it is only humane of me to be concerned about how I might be perceived in the minds of others. If you relate to this, I am writing this letter to you, my imperfect fellow being. In the most vulnerable and painstaking way, we all are not immune to the negativity and limiting beliefs of ourselves and others.

Life has its mysterious ways of teaching us a lesson in its myriad of anomalies that plonk us into the same arena of challenges until we learn the insight that has to be drawn into the core of our being. Raising a toast in the existence of the ones who have always given their all and yet feel like they are not enough. I can fathom the pain that belies to be in the experience of not being enough in any endeavour you take upon, the hollow of self-doubt creeping in the hind and swallowing up the serenity from every crevice of the mind. It is said that self-belief is the mightiest shield of all, that once put on with its most lustrous enamour, builds our resilience in every stride we embrace and every battle we fight. Yet the question haunts us in its glory, how to embrace the shield of self-worth to rewrite our story. I know how infuriating it is to be told to control your demons and vanquish them to their dearth, yet no one knows how much you were hurt.

If you have experienced this, I am sorry! The existential arena of mortality is anything but fair, it gives you pain in the darkest of days and we are expected to smile. To smile with a twinkle in our eye, to hide the ocean of brokenness all clothed in a glorified lie. But let me tell you if most people knew your story, the silent battles you have been through, the scars that you carry like warpaint and the tears that you shed at night only to smile and walk on until the last string of your hope, they would be left wondering how you do it. And if nobody tells you this, let me tell you that I am proud of you. I am proud of you for harbouring the hope to survive when all you wanted was to give up, I am proud of you for standing tall amidst all the insecurities that told you that you are not worthy. I am proud of you for being kind, I am proud of you for being insanely passionate about what ignites a fire within your soul and most vitally I am proud of you for being you.

Let's reframe the narrative

-Rather than being constantly agitated about the thought of not being enough for others, let's focus on how it feels on the inside.

- Instead of fixating on whether others think that I am doing well in my life, let's change the narrative to: are my present actions serving my higher purpose and making me feel good about myself?

- For every person or thought that says you are behind, tell them that you are on your way to your excellence to find.

In utmost honesty, I am yet to find the true purpose of my life and there are days where I feel lost and unworthy, but in the tenacious moments of existence, I remind myself of the journey that I stridden upon and remind myself to be grateful.

Because the entities and experiences that you have as your normal reality were a desire beyond the wildest dreams for someone who you used to be.

Think about it:)

-Hridya Sharma