Chandrika Ravi Instagram – Since January, life has felt like a warm summer embrace.. with a few rough storms along the way. Trusted God. Danced in the rain. There’s so much magic all around us… after all life is a beautiful moment. I never realised the beauty in feeling defeated before.. it was from feeling this defeat that I chose to surrender and be fluid to flow effortlessly into whatever shape life took. I battled with depression and anxiety on and off since I was about 16, and this year I broke free from those shackles for good. In the past 12 months I have felt the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I used to be so perplexed about a sign at my meditation centre that says “Be still and know that I am God” because I never understood its meaning then. Years of being on the go non stop lead to burnout, constant jetlag, overworking, craving the warmth of my family, uncertainty, the lack of real connections with friends or a partner because I was never in one place since I was busy chasing my dreams or trying to keep busy because I thought that meant that I was showing how grateful I was for the gift of life by using every second to the fullest(also because it kept my mind occupied). My soul and spirit was tired. As I slowly started experiencing peace as the weights were lifted one by one (because I was helping to offload them instead of piling them on), I understood how badly my entire being was craving it. Now my life is curated around what brings me peace and keeps me at peace. It’s taken me a week to muster up the courage to be vulnerable and share that I too have had dark moments though I may appear as a soldier, we have to remember strength is defined by what’s inside and not our armour. Breathe. Be kind to yourself, you’re doing your best. You can’t appreciate where you’re headed if you don’t acknowledge how far you’ve come. I hope the more I share my journey, the more I can continue to be a lighthouse for you.