Meditation And Mending
Ananya, a 29-year-old from Mizoram, India, always believed in love. She had been in a long-term relationship with her partner, Vikram and was married to him for two years. Ananya was sure she had found her soulmate. However, when the marriage ended in divorce, her world fell apart. The divorce left her heartbroken, filled with regrets and scared about the future. She struggled to move on, found it difficult to forget the past and was constantly plagued by self-doubt.
For several weeks, Ananya was caught in a vortex of sadness. Her days were consumed with thoughts of “what ifs” and “why me?” She missed her old relationship and feared she would never find love again. Her self-esteem took a beating and she began to question her worth, deepening her emotional turmoil.
One day, seeing how much Ananya was hurting, her close friend Shreya suggested she try mindfulness and meditation. Initially, Ananya was skeptical. She had heard about these exercises, but she wasn’t sure they could help her. However, after some thought, she decided to give it a try.
She downloaded a meditation app and started with short, guided sessions. The app focused on self-compassion and acceptance, topics that resonated with her. Each day, she set aside a few minutes to sit quietly, close her eyes, and listen to calming guidance. At first, the sessions were difficult as her mind was filled with thoughts of Vikram and the past. But gradually, she felt changes. The intense sadness began to fade and she became more aware of her emotions without feeling overwhelmed.
Ananya also joined a support group recommended by Shreya. The group, focused on mindfulness exercises, provided a safe space for people struggling with divorce and emotional challenges. There, Ananya learned the importance of staying in the present and practicing self-compassion. These lessons, along with her daily meditation, helped her accept that her feelings of regret and fear were a natural part of her healing process.
One evening, as Ananya was walking out of her favourite coffee shop after a long day at work, she saw Vikram walk in. At first, she felt her body tense up, remembering the days they spent together and the pain of their divorce. But then, she took a deep breath and used what she had learned in her meditation group to calm herself down and relieve the tension. They greeted each other politely, exchanged a few words and went their separate ways. Ananya realized that seeing Vikram was not a bad experience and that she could forget her feelings and move on with her life.
Through mindfulness, Ananya found a new perspective on her emotions. Instead of fighting her sadness, she accepted it as part of her journey. She realized that the divorce didn’t define her or her future — it was simply a chapter in her life. This shift in thinking allowed her to begin writing the next chapter with new clarity and confidence.
Over time, Ananya’s self-esteem began to rebuild. She no longer felt as afraid of new relationships, and she appreciated her own strength and worth. Mindfulness and meditation helped her focus on the present, let go of the grip of her past, and reduce worries about the future.
With this new sense of self acceptance, Ananya approached life with openness and hope. When she met Pratham, introduced to her by her parents, she entered the relationship with an open heart and a positive attitude. The tools she gained from mindfulness and meditation allowed her to navigate this new phase without the burden of her past.
This is only a glimpse of the journey—discover the complete story within the pages of the book.
“Because every story has the power to change something.” — A. Bansal