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We all have our own private fears, but Freedom from fear begins with the courage to admit to fear - and then work to overcome it.
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We all have our own private fears, but Freedom from fear begins with the courage to admit to fear – and then work to overcome it.
We’ve devoted the month of August to freedom through the FreedomIs # campaign. To read more about the campaign, and see all the selfies contributed, click here. (And send yours too, so we can include it!)
It felt amazing to learn about the varied perspectives on freedom, by women all across India. It was interesting to know that freedom means different things to different people. Indeed, Freedom is such an important word that without it, we can never be completely happy. Countries have waged wars for freedom because it’s such an invaluable feeling and it’s one of the most important fundamental rights too. After all, would anyone be truly happy confined ?
It was difficult to write on any one aspect of freedom because it has different forms and all are equally significant to me. I ultimately decided to write about Freedom from fear because fear is the common stumbling block that we deal with on a daily basis.
We are all born free and gradually as the years pass by, our lives get entwined with fears and insecurities every step of the way. Leading a fear-filled life can be overwhelming and can have life changing effects. It is the situations and circumstances in our lives that create it and in turn, it has an effect on our psyche and our behaviour as well. Every individual has fears and insecurities and sometimes we begin to feel threatened by situations that cause fear.
Some common fears that women go through are the fear of venturing out alone, especially at late hours of the night, fear of losing a loved one, fear of not being able to help a loved in need, fear of becoming a victim to a deadly disease, fear of not keeping in good health, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of loneliness, fearing the safety of her family and kids, fear of terrorism, fear of violence and fear of survival.
These are common concerns that most of us have and it takes courage to admit it. In our right minds, we tend to not give into them, but these thoughts are always lurking somewhere in our minds. Sometimes, these feelings may overtake our lives, making us crippled and paralyzed. When we free ourselves from the chains of fear, it is only then that we would win the battle of freedom from fear. Some are successful in doing so and some are not. The successful ones move on to lead a happier, authentic and a more meaningful life. They are also successful in realizing and achieving their dreams.
It would truly be a heavenly feeling when we get rid of our fears. But is that really possible ? I think it is. It’s not completely possible to eliminate situations in our lives that we feel threatened by, but it’s up to us to get rid of our own fears and phobias by dealing with them in a positive way. Most often the fear ceases to take hold of our lives, when we confront it head on.
We can fight fear by making ourselves mentally strong , by gaining knowledge and education on subjects that are the cause of our fear, by learning from others, by seeking help from counsellors and therapists, by gaining emotional support from our own kin, friends and teachers, by becoming more spiritual and at peace with ourselves. The final decision to change, rests on our own shoulders. So, let’s hope that we all attain freedom from our inner demons and not get consumed by it. I’d like to conclude with these beautiful quotes on freedom from fear.
Diana has worked as an Editor/Writer and Content Manager for various digital platforms and hopes that each word written in this space supports, motivates and inspires her readers in India or across seas. Besides read more...
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Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Being a writer, Nivedita Louis recognises the struggles of a first-time woman writer and helps many articulate their voice with development, content edits as a publisher.
“I usually write during night”, says author Nivedita Louis during our conversation. Chuckling she continues,” It’s easier then to focus solely on writing. Nivedita Louis is a writer, with varied interests and one of the founders of Her Stories, a feminist publishing house, based in Chennai.
In a candid conversation she shared her journey from small-town Tamil Nadu to becoming a history buff, an award-winning author and now a publisher.
Nivedita was born and raised in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was for schooling that she first arrived in Chennai. Then known as Madras, she recalls being awed by the city. Her love-story with the city, its people and thus began which continues till date. She credits her perseverance and passion to make a difference to her days as a vocational student among the elite sections of Madras.
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