Flaws & All

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Dear Investors & Friends,

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Welcome to this edition of the SundayReads.

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My niece, Shreya, who writes under the pen name “The Thinking Woman,” recently shared a beautiful piece on Self Acceptance. She reflects on the struggle many of us face in understanding self-love:

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“I’d sometimes feel jitters over entering a room full of people, would need multiple invites to turn up to a gathering of people I didn’t know too well. Sometimes, I would cancel plans end minute because I would convince myself that no one would notice if I wasn’t there. [...] I guess I am living life like an introvert.”

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Her words resonate deeply. It’s so easy to let anxiety and doubt control our lives, but her journey reminds us of a powerful truth: flourishing comes from accepting ourselves exactly as we are. You can read her full post here: Self-Acceptance.

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We often overlook self-awareness and self-acceptance in our pursuit of improvement. In our rush to be better, we forget to pause and appreciate who we are—imperfections and all. Imagine seeing ourselves like the Zulu greeting “Sawubona”—which means, “I see you, and by seeing you, I bring you into being.” How different would life be if we saw ourselves with that kind of love?

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Psychologist Susan David, in her TED talk, speaks about the importance of recognizing all emotions, even the uncomfortable ones. Emotions aren’t just feelings; they’re data about what we care about. Ignoring them prevents us from truly understanding ourselves. I

If you feel frustrated by the daily news, that emotion may reflect your deep value for justice and fairness.

If you feel anxious about a new challenge at work, try saying, “I’m noticing I’m feeling stressed,” instead of simply, “I’m stressed.”

This small shift can help us realize that we are not our emotions, but rather, we’re experiencing them, and we have the power to decide how to respond.

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My niece also shares a story of a friend who accepted that he wasn’t always kind to service staff. At first, he resisted this uncomfortable truth, but over time, he accepted and worked on it. This teaches us that we don’t need to be perfect, just honest.

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As I introspect, I realize there is strength in owning who we are—quirks, flaws, and all. We are all works in progress, and with patience and kindness towards ourselves, the path forward will always be more fulfilling.

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We are all works in progress.

But as long as we remain aware of who we are, and show ourselves patience and kindness, the journey ahead will be just fine.

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Until the next week and the next SundayRead, Ciao.

Warm regards

Kavita Bothra

Helping you think thoughts you may not have thought before.