It was a Tuesday afternoon, a regular performance review. My manager looked up to me and said, "You need to speak up more in meetings." I paused and I asked him why. Not because I wanted to challenge him, but because I genuinely wanted to know.Why was presence being measured by volume. I wasn't quiet because I didn't care. I was processing deeply, acknowledging the scenarios around me.But in that moment, I felt what every immigrant, introvert, and women in tech have felt. that who I was wasn't enough, not l ...

Core Message - The core message emphasizes the importance of authentic self-expression and overcoming the fear of speaking up, advocating for presence over perfection in communication [1][4][9][15][16] - It highlights that communication is about connecting with others and sharing one's truth, rather than achieving flawless grammar or performance [9][15] Overcoming Communication Barriers - The report addresses the common issue of individuals feeling unworthy or inadequate in their communication skills, often due to past experiences or cultural norms [2][3][4][5][7][9] - It suggests that many people, particularly young individuals, hold back their ideas due to a lack of confidence in their communication abilities, not a lack of intelligence or creativity [6][7] - The report uses the example of "Disha" to illustrate how past failures and societal pressures can create communication blocks, but these can be overcome through self-awareness and healing [2][3][7][8][9][10][11][14][16] Transformation Strategies - The report proposes three key transformations for improving communication: prioritizing energy over words, aligning inner voice with outer expression, and focusing on mindful speech for transformation rather than impression [11][12][13] - It emphasizes the importance of self-belief and positive self-talk in projecting a powerful and authentic voice [12] - It suggests that mindful speech should aim to transform and help others, rather than simply impress [13] Cultural Context - The report acknowledges that in some cultures, silence is often mistaken for respect, leading individuals to suppress their voices [5] - It challenges the notion that attention is only for powerful speakers, encouraging everyone to find and use their voice [5][6]

I want to start with a drawing. It's the one I made when I was six. A flying cat, sun with sunglasses, the sky was literally upside down, and the moon was on the grass.And finally, a starfish house. I didn't make it because it was practical. I didn't care about whether it was good or if it was realistic.I made it with the kind of joy that doesn't ask for permission. Now, fast forward, we grow up. We learn to meet deadlines, sit still, and do the right thing.But in the process, we lose something. Not because ...

The first of these questions is how often do we throw around the word happy and happiness. It's almost as if the meaning is simple and self-explanatory. But if I asked you right now to define happiness, to tell me what it means to live a happy life, I bet you'd hesitate.When psychology attempted to do this, we got over 20 definitions of happiness in the form of theories like the self-determination theory or frameworks that highlight the need for autonomy, goal setting, and self-acceptance. Beyond this, ther ...