Ever felt scared of what people might say about you? I have, and it used to hold me back. I still remember the time when I was too scared to speak up, worried that my ideas and thoughts would be laughed at. Coping with it was definitely not an easy ride, but what surely helped me was observing people closely. I realized that everyone will have some or other opinions about what I do, so instead, I would rather focus on what my opinions are about my decisions. I have so many regrets about decisions I took and things I did because I cared too much about what people think and say about me, when in the long run, most of these people are not even in my life. Life's too short to worry about what everyone thinks. Just be you, and watch how things get better. It's not about making everyone happy; it's about being true to yourself.

Doesn't it get difficult to continue when you are not seeing the results? This is what I thought to myself when I started doing my meditation practice and didn't see any benefit. Watching people effortlessly meditate and feeling blissful made me doubt if I could ever do it. I felt the same way in yoga. I had a lot of trouble getting into the poses correctly. Although I knew things would improve with time, still it’s difficult to continue. You can be at any walk of life, but these few things will surely help you: ask yourself what result you are aiming for. In my case, I used to have this false result set to do Yoga like people who have been practicing for so long, but my result was to just start getting yoga poses right. At every step, the result that you are expecting will be different, so make an analysis of where you are and what results you are seeking. Secondly, I realized I was comparing myself with others, so I started to compare myself with myself. Am I doing better than yesterday? This made me feel much better as I was more aware of my progress, and that gave me a feeling of accomplishment. From my experience, I've learned that it's important to have patience and to focus on your own progress rather than comparing yourself to others. It's easy to get discouraged when we don't see immediate results, but progress takes time. Additionally, setting realistic goals and being mindful of what we are seeking can help us stay motivated and focused on the journey rather than just the destination.

My visit to Vadodara (Gujarat) during Navaratri completely changed my outlook on the festival. Before my trip, my knowledge of Navaratri was limited to worshipping nine avatars of Goddess Durga, fasting, and playing Garba. But when I arrived in Vadodara, I discovered that Navaratri was so much more than that. My friend and I dressed up in our traditional outfits and headed to the big ground where the Garba celebration was taking place. As soon as we arrived, I was struck by the sight of hundreds of people dancing to the beat of the music. The energy was electric, and everyone was having so much fun. The traditional music and the dance moves were both challenging and exciting. I could feel the devotion and love for Devi Maa in the air. The colours of the outfits, the sounds of the dhol and the clapping, and the smell of the delicious food all blended together to create a magical atmosphere. Next morning, my friend's dadi sat us down for breakfast and told us about the festival's significance. I was amazed to learn that Navaratri comes every month! After the New Moon, the first nine nights are called Navaratri. Two Navaratris, Chaitra and Sharad, are celebrated with great enthusiasm. The nine avatars of Goddess Durga represent different aspects of the Divine Feminine, and the festival is a time to nurture our feminine energy. This experience changed my outlook on Navaratri and made me more interested in learning about other cultural festivals. I realized that there is so much more to discover and appreciate in the world's diverse cultures. If you want to feel the energy and vibe of the festival, I highly recommend visiting Gujarat during Navaratri.

I once heard that meditation works best when practised in nature🏞️ So, I went to Rishikesh, India - a place known for yoga and meditation🧘🏽‍♀️ where many tourists come to find inner peace. I decided to join a school of yoga and meditation. Surrounded by like-minded individuals, I felt energized. For the first time in my life, I was practising yoga with people who shared the same purpose. Instead of practising in one room, we went to different natural places, like near the Ganges River🌊, in the mountains🏔️, and in the middle of greenery🌳🌲. It was then, that I realized the importance of meditation and yoga in our lives. As we concentrated and closed our eyes, we felt the wind blowing, the birds chirping🐥, and the coolness on the tip of our noses❄️. When we opened our eyes, we were all happy and just smiling😁. That was the moment I found inner peace. I learned that it's important to surround yourself with supportive and like-minded people to achieve your goals and that nature can enhance meditation and bring inner peace✌🏽

As a spiritual leader🧘🏽‍♀️, I have had many interesting experiences, but one that stands out was when I made the conscious decision to enroll in an online yoga, kriyas and meditation program as a way to deal with the mental health struggles that came about as a result of the COVID-19. When the pandemic hit, I, like many others, was struggling with my mental health. Initially, it was quite challenging to meditate as my thoughts were completely consumed by the constant news updates and the plight of those who had been affected. I found myself crying for the first few days. Days passed, weeks passed, but nothing happened. However, with consistent practice over the course of a month, I began to notice rays of light flashing during my meditation sessions, which brought with them a sense of inner peace and calmness that I had never experienced before😇 I believe that we all have the ability to find inner peace and calmness, even amidst the chaos that life throws our way. By taking time to focus on our mental and spiritual well-being, we can transform our lives and experience a greater sense of clarity and purpose.