A Personal Journey: From Darkness to Purpose

Thank you for the privilege of your time This time, I'm here, speaking to you on a more personal note. I recently crossed a milestone birthday and took time to reflect on the years gone by. A few things stood out, and I felt I could share them with you. As I pen this, I feel tears welling up—tears of gratitude—for the most fulfilling moments I experienced at work today. I'm Radha Kesavaram, a Person-Centered Therapist, heading the Mental Health department at iDare.

Reflections…

Today, I stand bold and tall, strengthened by life experiences that have shown me time and again that I am good enough, fit enough, and worthy of living a life of purpose. In my work, I am privileged to witness my clients' journeys—their victories. As they chisel away at their burdens, choose faith, and set goals, I see them emboldened and empowered to live the lives they truly have the potential for. Let me share a few snippets from my own journey… Looking back, I realize how faith whispered to me even in the darkest times, hinting at what I could strive for—as if I had a choice. Through experiences of abuse, where my words were silenced, my voice crushed, and my life dictated by the whims and fancies of others, I slowly developed the belief that I was helpless—powerless in the face of it all. The only option seemed to be to conform to others' demands, sacrificing myself at the altar of what I thought was my destiny. Yet, despite it all, a quiet drive within me refused to be extinguished. While I constantly wrestled with fear and self-doubt, I also chose to listen to the voice of faith. It urged me to learn, to educate myself, and to work on becoming the person I knew I could be. For this, I am eternally grateful. Faith helped me seize educational opportunities, giving me direction while juggling roles and responsibilities at home. Faith helped me embrace career opportunities, paving the way for me to be where I am today. Faith helped me grow, enabling me to lead by example and create opportunities for learning and growth for the little ones under my care. As my efforts began to bear fruit, I recognized how these choices had shaped my destiny.

Learnings… Choices…

The stirrings of my mind and spirit were proof enough of what I had the potential to accomplish. This applied to both my life and work. I chose to walk away from a life marred by abuse. I chose to switch careers, making use of opportunities to educate myself. I chose to commit to my calling as a mental health advocate and professional when the only guarantee I had was the voice of faith within me. I chose to move to another city and build a life entirely on my own when my only support was the voice of faith within me. I chose to claim my right to live, even when everything around me pushed me toward giving up. The only light guiding me was the voice of faith within me. Fear and self-doubt have been part of this journey too. But speaking of faith—it started as a whisper and grew stronger as I walked, holding her hand.

Let me leave you with this…

My dear fellow travellers, I have come to recognize that courage is a choice. That faith is always present, ready to guide us—if only we listen. What would it look like if, going forward, you made choices based on faith? That subtle voice within you is saying: You can do this. Yes, there will be learning curves. Yes, it will take effort, sweat, and hard work. But you will reach your goals—your dreams and destinations, perhaps beyond what you ever imagined. And the best part? You don't have to do this alone. Cheers, mate! Can't wait to see you at the summit.

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