Healing the Wounds They Never Saw: My Journey to Self-Love

Growing up, I faced bullying in ways a young heart should never have to.

My weight, my looks, my body – they all became easy targets for judgment, jokes, and cruelty.

At an age when I should have been discovering the world with wonder and innocence, I was instead learning to hate myself.

I remember being just 14 years old, pushed into gyms, diets, and endless comparisons.

Even though I was an active child – always playing outside, full of life – none of it seemed enough for the world around me.

No one ever asked about my dreams, my laughter, or my kindness.

They only saw my body – and they judged it.

The constant bullying and shaming chipped away at my self-confidence.

I spiraled into unhealthy patterns, desperate for validation, desperate to be “enough.”

All because of some extra fat on my body.

Because society taught me to believe that worth was measured in kilos and inches, not in kindness and courage.

But today, as I look back, I realize something powerful:

My weight was never the problem.

Their cruelty was.

Their narrowness was.

Today, I sit with that younger version of myself – little Ridhima – and I tell her:

“You were never broken.

You were never unworthy.

You are not defined by what others failed to see in you.”

After delivering more than 500 sessions, standing on stages, and hearing people say, “You’re on fire! You’re so confident!”

– you might think the comments about my body would have stopped.

They didn’t.

Because society still struggles to separate appearance from essence.

But I have changed.

Today, I have built a space where people are loved, celebrated, and welcomed —

not for how they look, not for the size they wear – but for the souls they carry.

A space where love is unconditional,

where belonging is not up for debate.

This journey isn’t just mine —

it’s a movement.

It’s a fight.

It’s an ongoing, imperfect, courageous act of healing.

And as I continue to heal deeper every day,

I am learning:

to love my body with patience,

to show compassion to myself without conditions,

to honor the journey – not chase the perfection.

Because I am – and have always been – enough.

And so are you.

If you needed a reminder today:

Your body is not your enemy.

Your worth is not negotiable.

You are, and have always been, a miracle.

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Join the Movement of Self-Love

If my story resonates with you – if you’ve ever felt judged, unseen, or made small because of how you look – know this:

You are not alone.

I have built a safe space where every body, every heart, and every story is celebrated.

Come be part of a community that sees you, values you, and lifts you higher.

Follow along, share your story, and let’s heal together.