I have now begun to feel the way I should have always felt!

UK-based Kashmira Chauhan’s life took a turn when she started loving and accepting herself.

I was at that point in my life where I saw no light at the end of the tunnel. I was beginning to feel that I am going to lose myself and my loved ones. We are often used to taking care of other people, especially if we are female. Indian society has embedded in our minds that a woman should look after everyone else’s needs. She is also often made to feel that she should be the one to sacrifice, no matter how hard it is. If this cycle of taking care of others’ needs continues, then your own self becomes unhappy at some point and there is a lot of resentment.

I was lucky enough to get to know about SHARAN and the work they do – not only about physical health but also mental well-being – through a friend.

Part of that well-being included looking after yourself and loving yourself to heal – not just physically but emotionally too. I started my journey by attending one such online workshop by Jaishree Kannan and Kommal Shah. I started accepting the condition I was in, by becoming aware of myself.

It was 2020, the peak of the global coronavirus pandemic, I was extremely ill and was beginning to think it was the end. I took steps to learn how to self-love. I recognised how I was feeling. I accepted that there is nothing wrong with feeling any of the emotions. Because whether you want to feel it or not, the feeling is there. So, I started visualising this situation from an outsider’s perspective. 

I started with how I would feel if I saw a loved one experiencing the feeling I was experiencing. That moment stuck with me. I decided to be kind to myself and love myself in that moment and always. My journey to healing had started at that point. This self-love tip led me to forgive myself for whatever the situation was. Sometimes it could be saying no to others or accepting help when you need to. By opening to self-love, I became more aware of how to nurture the parts that need tending. This care may come in the form of eating better, healing yourself with herbs that don’t come with side effects, exercise, stress reduction, surrounding yourself with good people and psychological therapy.

This in turn shifted my focus to positivity and becoming less of a self-critic. I started trusting myself and being true to myself. I was happier and I took baby steps to set realistic expectations. I now view setbacks as part of the process of learning. 

I have begun to feel the way I should have always felt!

Chocolate Mousse

Try this made-in-minutes delicious chocolate mousse recipe. It will make you want even more! Loving and treating yourself can be healthy and fun for sure!

Ingredients

• 2 ripe avocados
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¾ cup date paste

Method

Blend all the ingredients in a food processor or blender. The mixture should be smooth and homogenous. Pour into small serving bowls or ramekins and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Variation

If you cannot get avocados, try using 200 g of soaked cashew nuts. Tofu or tender coconut flesh may also be used instead of avocado.

Serves 8

Food For The Mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

If you love Facebook, then join us to be supported on your plant based journey. We are offering two possibilitie

1. SHARAN India is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

It’s all about loving yourself

There is a tremendous connection between our health and how we feel about ourselves. How we behave with each other is a reflection of how we feel about ourselves. If we could all start loving ourselves, we may actually start an epidemic of health!

Many of us believe that we are worthy of love only when we lose weight or get a great job or a partner. However, if you don’t love yourself today, then you are unlikely to love yourself tomorrow, as the reasons never end. Loving oneself is a choice one can make today. Embrace yourself, forgive and heal, for a beautiful healthy life awaits you.

Read on for some tips on how to get you loving the most important being in your life – yourself 1. Make a list Yes, take out a pen and a sheet of paper and write down at least 25 good things about you. Stick the list in a place where you can see it regularly.

2. Check your inner voice Become aware of what you say to yourself. It’s too important to ignore. Would you allow anyone to tell you – you are useless, good-for-nothing, ugly, fat or more? Then why do you say it to yourself?

3. Accept yourself Each one of us is special in our own way. You don’t have to do what others are doing. Celebrate your uniqueness.

4. Distance yourself from those who bring you down Your friends in life should motivate, inspire and respect you. Check your circle. Who are you listening to?

5. Forgive your past self It’s over! Let it go.

6. Be grateful One who is grateful is never unhappy.

7. Take out time for yourself Do something that you love often – cook a new dish, cycle, read a book, watch that movie, solve a puzzle, go to the garden, paint, get a massage…so many options!

8. Learn something new Explore new ideas through activities, books, groups, initiatives etc.

9. Believe in yourself Everything is possible!  You just have to believe it.

10. Loosen up Smile, laugh, and enjoy…don’t take everything so seriously.

11. Be loving and kind to others What you give out, comes back to you.

12. Eat healthfully Have green smoothies, and lots of organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid junk.