Author: Ms. Anandha Radha Sumathi, Ātmaprasāra volunteer

Category: Mental Health

For a long time, I was someone who worried a lot about what others thought of me. I would think twice before saying something, doing something, or even making a decision. Somewhere in my mind, there was always a question – “What will they think about me?”

Along with this came a lot of self-doubt. Even when I did something well, I would still wonder if I was really good enough. I found it difficult to accept myself and would often compare myself with others.

I didn’t realise how much this was holding me back until I started my journey with Ātmaprasāra. The experiences I gained, the people I met, the work I got to do and the learning along the way slowly helped me see myself differently. Therapy has also helped me understand where these fears and doubts come from and look at myself with more kindness. I am still not completely free from these thoughts. They do come back sometimes. But today, I don’t allow them to decide everything for me. I am learning that everyone may not understand me, and that’s okay. I don’t need everyone’s approval to feel good about myself. Ātmaprasāra and therapy have helped me move from constantly questioning myself to slowly trusting myself. I still have a long way to go, but I am happy with how far I have come.