You are enough By Sneh Dutt

Life is a roller coaster ride.

It has no obligation to follow our plans. All of us witness it's constant ups and downs. We go through struggles and face setbacks in the journey of life yet move forward.

Challenges in life are inevitable. I am no exception. I too had my platter full of challenges. I am sharing what I learnt by hit and trial and practiced to navigate through my life. It is not to preach but might help in making choices while coping with challenges of life.

1. In life, we always have a choice —Fight or flight. We can either choose the victim mindset and crib,feel dejected OR we can develop a positive mindset to stand tall in the face of unfavourable circumstances. Choice is yours and so are the consequences.

2. It helps if we acknowledge, accept and address our challenges. Denial won't help .If life puts us through tough situations we have to be tougher. Allow yourself to pickup your pieces and don't let challenges dismantle you.

3.It is very important to maintain personal values and healthy boundaries. Your actions should match your words.

4. Don't forget to be kind to yourself. We are generally harsh upon ourselves when problems weigh us down and throw our life out of gear. Self-criticism does not help. Coping gracefully helps.

5. Remember ,worrying is not an action and we don't know it all so step back and introspect for a while . Let some time flow while you gather yourself .

6. It is OK to make mistakes..Keep your sense of humour alive. It helps in laughing off the seriousness of life and in being optimistic.

7.Keep a journal.Write what you can not or don't want to say to any one.Pour your heart on to the pages .Believe me, it is cathartic.

8.Have a date with your inner child who will hold your hand and whisper a long forgotten secret to you "All storms pass. "

9 Learn and unlearn too .It helps in gaining an insight and modifying our perspectives . We have to be flexible in our approach .

10. Let perseverance and resilience be your mantra.Don’t give up.Come out of your comfort zone of familiarity. Take your life heads on .

11.Read good literature . Follow your passion.Be in the company of persons with positive attitude. Gratitude, compassion and purpose in life are essential to develop positive attitude.

12.Be in touch with your rustic wounds.Spend time with your pain.Learn your lessons. Instead of treasuring how you were hurt begin to honour the way you are healing.

13.I might appear a rebel but sometimes you have to ignore all the 'should haves' to sustain your sanity.You have to break the shackles and be your authentic selves without the anguish of what everybody thinks.

14.Being financially independant empowers you.Don't compromise with self respect and self worth.Nurture your own self .You have to stand in your own wisdom and power. You have the ability to decide on your battles.Your efforts will fine-tune you to perfection.

15.Reclaim and keep reinventing yourself.Try Rewriting your story. Renew your life script.You might be delicate but you are not weak. You will emerge as winner with head held high.

Art By Ashok Bhatnagar

Art By Lakshmi Harit

Photography by Akta Sehgal