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𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 | 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠

@theessenceofself

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because our communities are all we have 🤍

#community #mentalhealth #tripvlog #aestheticvlog #selflovereminders <mental health reminders, self love, community healing, healing journey, therapist, community centered therapy, family healing, aesthetic trip vlog, vlog on film> taken in Astoria OR by @theessenceofself

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3 months ago

before may ends…happy mental health awareness month ⋆˙⟡

#may #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #mayreminders #affirmations #selflovereminders <reminders for may, mental health reminders, self love reminders, self love blog, mental health awareness, positive affirmations> by @theessenceofself

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5 months ago

10 years ago, if you told middle school Astha that the silly little motivational quotes she wrote on her whiteboard would eventually lead her to speaking in front of hundreds of people, she would have NEVER believed you.

i didnt realize the power of sharing personal stories until i started talking about my own. my blog started as a place for me to write my own thoughts as a way to process, but it turned into something so much bigger, it made me and the people around me feel seen & connected.

now, before giving a speech or doing a talk, when i start feeling imposter syndrome (yes, i still do), i remind myself the power of my story, and if what i have to say can resonate with even ONE person, i’ve done my job. and that’s the power of words, and i hope this inspires you to share yours 🤍

with love,
astha

#reminderstoself #therapy #selflove #mentalhealth #motivationalspeaker by @theessenceofself

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6 months ago

happy world mental health day ♡
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#mentalhealth #worldmentalhealthday #mentalhealthawareness by @theessenceofself

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a year ago

things we wish we could tell our parents about our mental health <3

whenever i see/talk to parents who have children with mental health conditions, often their response is “i’m not sure what more i could have done to avoid this” or “i don’t know where my parenting went wrong”. but honestly, i don’t blame them. its hard watching someone you love struggle with their mental health and wanting to fix it, but we have to remember to be supportive and listen before we act or blame. supporting someone and their mental health could be a matter of life and death, and it’s always better to have a struggling friend than a dead one. we all have the power to prevent death by suicide if we just show up, listen, and support those who need it

sending so much love to those who wish their parents understood what they were going through, and to the parents who are trying their best to support their kids 🤍

<mental health, south asian mental health, BIPOC healing, #suicideawareness > by @theessenceofself

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a year ago

late post but i had so much fun doing this podcast for the Candid Seat! watch the full episode on youtube (link in bio) 🤍
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#mentalhealth #podcast #mentalhealthawareness #youthmentalhealth #podcasthost <podcast episode, mental health podcast, south asian, desi mental health> by @theessenceofself

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a year ago

“i am love and i spread love to those around me” ⟡♡

felt so empowering to hear a room full of aunties, moms, nanis, dadis, masis…and so many south asian women say this affirmation aloud :’)

i got the honor of being a presenter at the International Women’s Day celebration this year and spoke alongside such influential and amazing women leaders such as @senatormankadhingra @electmanka

i spoke about how we can have mental health conversations across all generations, and by being more understanding of our elders, we can learn to break down these intergenerational gaps and understand each others feelings and experiences better. i think its so important to start opening mental health conversations to people that we “think” might not understand, but really- they do. they just havent had the tools and freedom to talk about their struggles as openly as we do.

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthspeaker #motivationalspeaker #mentalhealthawareness <south asian mental health, desi mental health, desi mental health advocate, south asian speaker, motivational speaker, south asian network, inspiring south asians, women’s day, inspiring desi women> taken in Seattle, Washington by @theessenceofself

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2 years ago

happy (almost) love day ♡

growing up, i barely ever heard my parents say "i love you" to me or to each other. not to say i never felt or experienced their love, i just never heard them say it out loud.

as i started growing older and discovering the different love languages, i slowly started seeing ways that they had always been showing me love and affection, all while never being able to say the words 'i love you'. i started noticing their own love languages, and ways they would give and receive love. part of understanding our parents is understanding that we have to learn with them. they're experiencing this life for the first time just like we are. appreciate them and the sweet (sometimes annoying) small things they do for you. there's defintely going to be a learning curve, and the ways that you want to be loved might not match the way your parents show you love, but remember that they are learning how to love just like you are <3

comment ways that your parents love you without actually saying it 💌
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#valentinesday #lovelanguages #selflove #selfcare #immigrantparents by @theessenceofself

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2 years ago

a year of public speaking and wonderful opportunities!!

as i continue venturing on my journey of mental health advocacy, this year has given and taught me so so much. i've connected with so many wonderful people and been given the opportunity to do some incredible work. these are a few highlighted moments from this year!

i've truly realized the value in sharing my story and the impact that genuine and meaningful conversations can have on community. there were so many times this year where i was presented with speaking or appearance opportunities where i would start doubting myself or start second-guessing whether i truly deserved to be speaking. through pushing myself and speaking at events like these, i heard so much positive feedback from people. hearing that my message resonated with people or that something i said got them to think of something in a new perspective was so re-affirming that what i had to say was valid and important. so despite my occasional imposter syndrome, i remind myself that through holding spaces and listening to each other's stories, we can open more conversations about mental health.

thank you for all the support and love <3 i hope to be speaking and doing more events in 2025 and can't wait to share them with you all :)

xoxo,
astha by @theessenceofself

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2 years ago

Happy Diwali & Bandi Chor Diwas my friends!! 🪔✨

May this festive season bring you so much love and light. I hope the lessons from our cultures and religions resonate with you and your mental health and serve as a reminder of the beautiful and vibrant community we all come from.

Wishing you prosperity and happiness,
astha <3
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#diwali #diwali2024 #festivalseason #indianfestival #desi #indianblogger #southasianblogger #mentalhealth #selfcare #selflove #selfcarereminders #mentalhealthreminders by @theessenceofself

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2 years ago

i think as i grow older and experience more life, i realize that self love really isn’t all as pretty and perfect as it seems to be. its actually pretty damn hard if im being honest.

i had so many moments this year where i didn’t live up to the expectations i set up for myself, didn’t do something to my full potential, didn’t take care of myself, and didn’t feel proud of the person i was. but i think the most difficult part of it all wasn’t my failed expectations, but the ability to still love myself despite them. i think that’s the part about self love i never hear people glorify, is loving themselves through the bad. to me, that is the purest form of love you can give yourself. is to pick yourself up, knowing you aren’t where you want to be, and giving yourself the grace to keep going to get there. 🫶🏽

if you showed up for yourself even if you didn’t want to, i am so proud of you. that commitment to yourself is what you deserve, and it will pay off, i promise. keep showing up for yourself, be consistent, be kind and patient. true self love is learning to except your short comings and putting in the work to turn them into strengths. you owe yourself nothing less. 🫀

i wish you all a beautiful 2024 and hope you treat yourself with uttmost kindness and respect this year. carry yourself with grace and know that you are on the path of becoming a better you every day. 🌱

special shoutout and throwback to this shoot i did in collab with @_mysimplicities_ earlier this year!! 🤍

#2024 #selflovereminders #mentalhealth #affirmations #selfcare #blogger #explorepage by @theessenceofself

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3 years ago

i hope september is good to you 💌

fall is one of my favorite seasons, it signifies change, calmness, comfort and a sense of healing for me. on the contrary, life also seems to go by really fast in the fall, i sometimes find myself living at the mercy of my to-do lists and fall into toxic productivity cycles. while the season is beautiful, its a reminder for me to keep progressing but remember to stop and slow down to admire how far i’ve come. i hope you give yourself the same patience and kindness that the autumn gives its leaves, allow them to change color, grow, fall, and rest <3

#selflove #selfcare #selfcarethreads #selflovejourney #selflovetips #selfcaretips #fallvibes #fallinspo #explorepage #mentalhealth #dailyreminders by @theessenceofself

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3 years ago