So maybe the problem isn't vulnerability.

Maybe the problem is how we handle the hurt that comes after. And as far as asking for help is concerned- as I had also said in the last piece- get hurt, get broken. Sometimes it's all part of your life. It's all part of your process. It'll make you a wiser person. Let God enter your path from the wounds. Your energy inside can only shine through the cracks.

And I'm not asking to trust people blindly. But I'm just saying- be vulnerable and let go. There is no other rule to it.

It's okay to be vulnerable, because vulnerability doesn't ask you to be weak. After being vulnerable, you don't have to crumble emotionally. You don't have to break apart in front of the other person. You're just sharing what is going on with you- and you know you're going to handle it on your own anyway.

And if the person is there for you, even just to listen to your problems, I feel like that's a huge help right there. I'm no preacher but let me share what has immensely been helpful to me- try and never take things personally, humans are different and their limits are different, 99% of the times their actions towards anything or anyone has got nothing to do with anything else but themselves.

So I feel like there's no problem at all in being vulnerable. I do know why people are so scared of it. I do know why people avoid it. But I also do know this: it takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable. It takes a lot of communication and constant conversation with yourself. Have that.

Sometimes you have to shut your brain out. Sometimes you have to silence that anxiety. And you have to just go for it.

Be vulnerable in front of the world. Build healthy relationships with your people. You'll see who's good. You'll see who's who very fast when you start being vulnerable. When you start shedding your layers, you understand who your people are. And it's a beautiful journey of learning and unlearning. When you have nothing to lose, when you don't carry the weight of expectations, you can be vulnerable in a way that's pure and freeing. And if someone hurts you? They shouldn't hurt you though- because you've already protected your energy from the inside out. We are so protected that being vulnerable will now not lead to hurt or damage. Snatch that power of getting damaged from being vulnerable and transfer it all to just your aura, make it stronger.

That's the most important thing in this whole universe- your energy. That is the whole universe within you.

You have to be so protected, so powerful, so grounded in your own self that you never feel the need to shut yourself off. Because you know: I've got me. I have got myself. This is all the reality that could ever sustain itself- and it already exists within me.

It's going to be really, really painful at times, because we've conditioned ourselves to avoid vulnerability- to avoid getting hurt. But we get hurt anyway, right? So maybe the problem was never with being vulnerable.

Maybe the problem was always with the fear of being hurt. And well, buddy- that's an inner work. Just like 100% of the works. It's an inner work, and it starts and ends with you.

Yes, I feel that is the problem with not being able to trust people and asking for help- because there have been an abundance of times where I have been vulnerable too, and I have trusted people with myself, with my darkest, deepest fears, and they did not really rise to the occasion. They did what they had to anyway. And humans have started scaring me a bit.

I feel like maybe that's the bottleneck, you know? I feel that's why I am unable to ask for help- because I've been accustomed to being on my own for so long that I have stopped becoming vulnerable to even my closest family members. Even my closest friends, to be honest. And I feel the only solution to that is to understand that vulnerability never asks to be reciprocated or to be protected after you have become vulnerable to someone. This game of vulnerability and then expectations is just a very dangerous Russian roulette that you play. Maybe that person helps you, and your expectations are met. Or maybe that person doesn't, and your expectations are shattered. Chances are it is going to be the latter, that's just nature- of both humans and expectations, and there's nothing wrong with it.

Now I realise, however- the solution is- be vulnerable anyway. That's the answer. That's what has worked for me. Be vulnerable and be open anyway, because I feel that when you are true to someone, including yourself- when you're verbally telling them that this is what you've been going through- you are just sending off good energy to the universe. You're showing the universe that you trust it enough to speak your truth without fear- like a blind fall.

And I feel that you trust the energy within you, that all the negativity or the negative emotions that you've been holding up for very long, you've at least acknowledged them by speaking out loud. You've asked someone for help, even just by telling them that this is what's happening, this is what you're going through.

And I feel that's why we are here, right?

I mean, humans help humans. Humans are supposed to be that helpful source in the universe- that even if we just share our problems with others, we feel lighter.

And I think, what's the harm anyway?

If you ask yourself at the end of it all, what's the harm in being vulnerable? Why expect anything? Expectations in the long run are a losing game. I haven't seen any human have expectations that are met continuously. You just have to be happy, man. You just have to…be.

That's all I think is the answer to this game. Thoughts?

While going through the first part of this series, it always felt like we were all trying to decipher a way to love ourselves better. We are trying to find a way to make self-love a natural part of our lives, something we don't have to consciously focus on but simply become. It should become our comfort zone. But practicing it, making it a proper way of life, is extremely difficult.

Things become difficult when the human intellect comes in the picture, where a single person embodies so many different personalities, there are so many people within one individual. We change when we are angry, when we are in love, when we are upset, when we are in doubt, when we are motivated, when we are disciplined, when we are not motivated, and when we are not productive. Being human means having many sides, and thats where the difficult part begins. Being this intellectual tends to come with a habit of questioning, a lot. It's all fun and games until we start questioning ourselves, our actions, and our choices.

Once we become aware of what we are doing as humans, it becomes really difficult to be happy with ourselves and feel satisfied with our decisions. We constantly ask ourselves:

**Is this what I was supposed to do?

Does this even make sense?**

All of this makes the first part feel even more challenging. I feel I must mention that loving yourself isn't all hunky-dory. There are phases when you doubt your past. There are phases when you question your decisions. There are times when you ask yourself:

**Am I a good person?

Am I a bad person?

What exactly do I want from life?

Why are my relationships the way that they are?

And that's an endless loop we get caught in.**

The only solution is not to love yourself in a delusional way, blindly falling in love with yourself without questioning anything you do, becoming this unthinking, inhuman person. But knowing that it is only human to reflect on your past and question it, to think about your future and feel fearful, or to focus on the present and feel deeply, overwhelmingly grateful for the energies around you and within you.

You have been brought here by the universe with such great force, surrounded by such immense happiness. Whatever you are feeling at this moment, you just have to be grateful. Yes, I feel that this is exactly what has worked for me over the years. Whenever I have a bad thought or dwell on the past, I remind myself that I am an evolving human being. I have different versions of myself, and one of the things that helps me cope with these doubts and questions is understanding that the decision I made at that time was the best decision that version of me could have wanted- or even needed, in order to feel protected.

I am constantly evolving, so I don't want to indulge in any kind of doubt or questioning that makes me feel sad about my past self. Because now, I am a new person. I have gained new information. I have become more informed about how things are, how people are, and how life works. That's how I manage these doubts and questions.

I also feel that when your conscience starts asking deep questions- "Am I a good person?", "Am I a bad person?"- it's a sign of being human. These are normal questions because, after all, this is our first time experiencing life. It was never meant to be easy, and it was never meant to be perfect. That's why I believe a great solution is to stop dwelling in the past. You did what you knew best at that time, and that is perfectly okay. That is enough.

You are not a bad person just because you've questioned whether you are. If anything, I believe that bad people do not exist at all- minor issues that could be possible with the ones who never question their actions, who never reflect on whether they were right or wrong. So, as long as you are trying to clear your conscience, as long as you are facing your issues and problems with solutions, good solutions that don't harm anyone else- I feel we all are doing pretty well.

On that note, I also feel that we give ourselves far too little credit for how we navigate life in our own simple ways. Whatever we have learned, whatever we have crashed into, whatever self-awareness we have gained, and whatever we are trying to achieve, we deserve more recognition for all of it. And yet, we are often the first to downplay our own growth, which only makes us more dissatisfied with ourselves. We need to start giving ourselves more credit for evolving, for becoming better every day, every year. That shift in perspective has helped me immensely.

Having said that, I feel like this is the first step to truly understanding the importance of loving yourself. When you are present with this current version of yourself, this is your only reality. And to be very honest, whatever amount of awareness and patience that requires- give it to yourself. You owe this life to yourself.

Whatever you have is the present, and in order to respect your present self, you must give it importance and prioritise it. This is where the journey of self-love truly begins. When you embrace this version of yourself, without judgement, without resistance, you start to understand what it means to love yourself.

And maybe that's just life, that's how it unfolds. When this version of you eventually becomes your past self, you might find it easier to love it then. But the key is to not compare your versions. You don't need to evaluate them against each other. You just have to be there for yourself. Show up for yourself.

That, I believe, is the first step to any kind of love. And maybe, it is the first step to this kind of love as well. :))

Oh, to be in love! But no, this is not about falling for someone else or measuring how deeply you care for another. This is about you. This is about the universal pursuit of self-love; being your most authentic self.

Now, this is not a luring recipe for self-love. It is not a quick-fix guide to loving yourself overnight. Instead, it is a call to those who recognise the sheer necessity of loving themselves in their lives.

"How do I know I truly love myself?"- This is a question I ask myself often. How can I be 100% sure I am doing it right? Well, there is no correct answer. Self-love is not a goal or a task you can check off your to-do list- it is a process, a way of life.

Ironically, the social pressure to "love ourselves" nowadays can strip away what any type of love truly needs: patience, and patience requires strength. Strength needs belief. Strength to keep believing in yourself, especially when your subconscious mind can easily whisper doubts. Doubts how? Read on.

So, belief is key because it is what fuels the strength to envision a better version of yourself, even when you do not see it yet. This better version is an abstract concept, an idea born in your mind, so it is difficult to have faith in its existence. But once you religiously believe in it, you commit to growing toward it and nothing can make you doubt its existence, not even your subconscious.

Belief

Believing in yourself means understanding that you are your biggest supporter and greatest competitor. The only person you can bet on entirely is you. Of course, skincare routines, healthy eating, and having gym days are ways to love yourself, but they are fleeting compared to the deep, inner work needed to build that belief.

True love for yourself is knowing, deep in your heart, that you will keep evolving. It is the realisation that there is no finish line to becoming your best self- it is a lifelong journey and, perhaps, it is life itself. And with every step forward, you raise the bar, not out of dissatisfaction, but out of sheer faith in your potential.

Patience

Patience is critical because self-discovery takes time. From an early age, we are exposed to countless ideologies, beliefs, and opinions- none of which belong to us. Sometimes, we mistake others' perspectives for our own, losing sight of who we truly are.

The only way out of this is- self-awareness. Take the time to evaluate everything you have ever been taught, read, heard, or made to believe in. What feels true to you? What aligns with your core values? What makes you feel more like you? Respect other people's choices, sure, but do not let them define you, no.

Once you uncover what you truly stand for, it becomes easier to stay true to yourself. Your opinions may evolve as new information comes your way, and that is okay. Growth is not about rigidly clinging to old ideas—it is about unapologetically incorporating what resonates and respectfully discarding what does not.

Power

With belief and patience, one day, you will reach a phase where you stop searching for validation of others. You will find yourself not trying to fit into groups, relationships, or roles that do not align with who you are.

At this point, you become comfortable in your own skin. You set boundaries, and those who understand them naturally become part of your circle. You start attracting relationships that resonate with your purpose from the universe, where you do not have to mould yourself to fit in.

True love has always felt liberating, not constraining. It is not about being perfect- it is about accepting yourself fully while continuously striving to grow.

The Journey

Self-love is not the destination; it is the journey. It is not a box to check or a task to complete. It is a process, a way of being, and a way of life.

With every step, you build belief in yourself. With every challenge, you develop the strength to keep going. And with every moment of patience, you get closer to uncovering the best version of yourself.

Remember, loving yourself is not just about being happy with who you are- it is about knowing, deep down, that you hold the power to shape who you become.

The most freeing experience to humanity is love. Grow in love with yourself.

Continuing.

I feel maybe we are not supposed to take life so seriously, no?

I think maybe we were put on this planet to enjoy the beautiful scenery around us, to breathe in the fresh air, to feel the wind and the breeze playing with our hair while we sit in the car with the windows down. Maybe life is just about being so happy in the present moment.

And I feel we have started taking life way too seriously. We've made it so complex because of our thoughts- the constant overanalysing, the way we take things personally, the weight we give to people's words or how they treat us. We measure our worth by our failures and successes, the grades we get in college, the friends we make, and sometimes we try to escape life through temporary distractions that are actually injurious to our health, it is funny. We let happiness slip through our fingers again and again, and instead of holding on to joy, we worry and we..escape.

I've seen people worry about the smallest things, getting caught up in endless loops of stress, so disconnected from the present moment. But at the same time, I've also seen people handle stress so beautifully. They are just happy souls. And no matter what life throws at them, no matter how chaotic things get, they remain at peace- my favourite kind of people! <3

And I feel that's not at all something dumb or naive. In fact, I feel extremely intelligent people have this rare ability to be happy- to choose optimism, to radiate positivity. And I wouldn't even call it optimism, I'd call it realism. Because when we talk about being realistic, isn't it about accepting life as it is? The people who stay joyful know that this present moment is all they truly have. And they know that frowning, overthinking, or clinging to sadness won't fix anything.

I feel the most intelligent people aren't the ones who make easy situations complex. They're the ones who make complex situations easy. They break life down into steps, into manageable pieces, and they move through each phase with calmness and patience. Because deep down, they understand- they know- that life is going to work out for them.

The universe is aligning every particle, every event, every connection in their favor. And they only need to do one thing: align their energy with the universe's plan. Align their energy to be so, so pure, so present, so full of life, that the universe looks at them and says, Yes, this soul is ready for the path I've carved for them.

That person isn't drowning in worries. They're not overthinking every step. And let me tell you- life has a bunch full of worries for everyone. No one is exempt. We cannot compare worries. We cannot compare fears. We cannot compare the difficulties of life. All we can do is observe how different people respond to them. And I feel the happiest souls are the ones who choose to enjoy life, regardless of the difficulties.

Because it's all a phase. The happy moments are a phase. The difficult moments are a phase. Nothing stays. Nothing lingers forever. So maybe the only true constant is the reality we choose to live with. And I feel that reality should be breathtakingly beautiful.

It starts with your thoughts. It starts with your responsibility to create a beautiful day for yourself, every single day. It starts with being grateful to God for everything He has gifted you- not just life, but the miracle of nature, the rhythm of your breath, the body that carries you, the soul that is you.

Emphasising on the last lines from my first peice of this series -- Maybe we were never meant to figure everything out. :))

From the moment we start observing the world around us, we subconsciously collect beliefs, expectations, and societal norms that have been passed down for generations until it becomes our comfort zone. But here's the unravelling of the uncomfortable truth- what if life wasn't meant to be lived by rules that no longer serve us? What if the real journey lies in unlearning everything that limits our experience of this beautiful life?

Maybe we're not supposed to figure everything out.

I feel like we have this habit of justifying every action, every decision, and every relationship, you know? We try to analyze people's behaviors toward us, and I've done this so many times- taking things personally, as if understanding everything will bring me peace. But maybe life isn't meant to be so carefully dissected. Maybe the magic lies in the unknown, in the surprises, and in surrendering to the flow. I mean, not having all the answers might be the very thing that makes life so breathtakingly awesome, right?

Maybe we're not supposed to make everyone happy.

I had grown up believing that love means giving endlessly, often at the cost of our own well-being. And maybe you've felt that too at a point in your life, right? That feeling where you blur your boundaries, thinking that prioritizing others will somehow fill the void you feel inside. But what if love isn't supposed to be a sacrifice, at all? What if we're meant to have healthy relationships with people who love and understand us- not perfectly, but willingly? I 100% believe love should be a reciprocal energy, not a test of endurance. It is strange how we sometimes measure the depth of our love by how much of our energy we are willing to give away. And maybe we were never meant to carry relationships that don't carry us back to the source, to ourselves. :)

Maybe we're not supposed to be happy all the time.

Feeling happy has become this ultimate goal for everyone, as if any other emotion is simply a failure. I am not sure if this is due to a lack of understanding in handling other emotions or if we simply believe those emotions exist to ruin the situation, while happiness seems to make everything better. But I feel all emotions are important to feel, and they can improve situations as well. Whether it's anger, jealousy, or guilt- any temporary negative emotion, once fully felt and navigated, can add depth and ultimately make a situation better. Also, what if the full spectrum of emotions is what makes us human indeed? The fear, the pain, the heartbreak, the rejection- they're all part of the same tapestry as love, joy, and success. I've started to understand that love is a state of being, but emotions like anger or sadness are fleeting visitors. They're meant to be felt, acknowledged, and released, not suppressed or judged. And maybe that's the most human thing of all, don't you think?

Maybe we're not supposed to live life like a race.

It often feels like we're sprinting toward some invisible finish line, measuring life by milestones, achievements, and how much we've "figured it out." And honestly, I've caught myself doing this so many times. But life isn't a task to complete. It's a slow, intricate dance. The moments you laugh until your stomach hurts, the nights you cry yourself to sleep, the spontaneous trips, the failures that reshape you, and the quiet mornings where nothing happens, yet everything feels right- this is life, right? Not the destination, but the journey itself.

Maybe we're supposed to just live.

I feel like we're supposed to trust the universe, even when life doesn't go as planned. To move through the hard phases with grace, knowing that nothing is permanent. To stop trying to mold life into what it "should" be and instead embrace it as it is- imperfect, unpredictable, and endlessly beautiful. Because maybe we were never meant to have it all figured out. So my last thought for you is- what if you were put here to enjoy this life and just..be, my love? :)