Life gets so much easier when you stop pretending and start accepting who you are.
This week, let's try to stop fitting in and aim to stand out!
Hello dear friend
Welcome to Be Your Best Friend with Anangsha - the weekly newsletter that embraces its uniqueness and refuses to blend in with the rest of the world.
This week’s theme is accepting yourself as you are and carving a place for yourself in the world.
“The world accommodates you for fitting in, but only rewards you for standing out.” ― Matshona Dhliwayo
So often, we hate the parts of ourselves that are different from everyone else.
I know because I did the same.
In school, everyone made fun of me because I was the nerdy girl with round glasses who loved her books more than her friends. I thought something was wrong with me, but I didn’t want to stop reading. So, I took the easy way out and started lying about how many books I read.
In college, people told me I was brash and loud, and way too emotional. I thought wearing my heart on my sleeve was wrong, so I started playing mind games like everyone else did. I hid my true feelings and tried to manipulate everything I said or did.
Did either of these work?
Of course not.
I was sad and lonely in school.
I was confused and even lonelier in college.
But now, as I inch closer to my thirties, I know if there’s one true thing in life, it’s this: you never find happiness by hiding away parts of yourself.
True freedom lies in embracing who you are, flaws and all.
True happiness comes from being yourself, unabashedly so.
Sometimes, it might be difficult to share parts of yourself with others, and that’s alright.
As long as you’re not lying to yourself, you should be okay.
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
Do you think being authentic is a gift or a curse?
I doubt there’s one correct answer to this, but I’d love to know what your take is.
What can we gain by knowing who we are and accepting ourselves as is - even the darkest parts? If we keep lying to ourselves, what are we missing out on?
Of course, this debate will be incomplete without quoting the lyrics of one of my favorite songs.
“Don't get too close; it's dark inside. It's where my demons hide.” - Demons, Imagine Dragons
With that thought to chew upon, let’s take a look at the articles and videos I created in the past few days. This week’s content is centered heavily around making a living as a writer and some cool book recommendations. Read on for more.
Videos of the week
I made three videos in the past few weeks that are centered around living and thriving the writer's life.
The Secret to Earning $10,000 US Per Month as a Freelance Writer | With Jessica Pereira
What are some things a freelance writer can do to make $10000 US per month just by writing articles?
Watch this interview to hear the inspiring story of Jessica Pereira. Jessica Pereira is a B2B SaaS writer, specifically in project management and communications. This is her story on how she started as a freelance writer, scaled her way to earning $5000 a month in June, and by December 2021, plans to scale up her earnings to $10,000 a month or more.
What it means to be a writer | Interview with my darlings Itxy Lopez, Emily Wilcox, and Buse Umur❤️
I hopped on a video call with my favorite writers - Itxy Lopez, Buse Umur, and Emily Wilcox - to talk about all the aspects of what it takes to be a writer. Watch this wholesome conversation to hear our take on topics like:
What does it mean to be a writer?
How is the life of writers different from everyone else?
What are some lessons only experience can teach you?
New Freelancers: Do this instead of Upwork to find New Clients #Freelancing #Writing
I didn't begin my freelance journey by bargaining with clients on Upwork.
Instead, I landed a premium client for my first gig that paid me a decent amount. Here’s how:
I wrote for free initially and built a strong resume. Writing on social media platforms like Quora and Medium gave me social credibility.
I talked to people without expectation. I showed up to every meeting I was invited to and networked with everyone present to the best of my ability.
I expanded my digital footprint by repurposing content for several social media platforms.
These aren't some privileges I was born with, but the result of consistent hard work and the compounding effect of small successes over time. You can apply the same and price your time higher as well. Watch the video to know how.
Book recommendation of the week
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.
Genre: Non-fiction.
More than simply getting rich, this book is about getting what you want. While some points might sound too simplistic, Hill’s recipe essentially boils down to this: to get what you want you must:
Desire it strongly enough,
Believe it will come true,
Act on it and do everything in your power, and
Persist even in the face of initial failures.
Feel free to follow me on Goodreads for more book reviews and recommendations.
Stories I recently wrote
June was a pretty slow month on Medium. The only articles I wrote were centered around writing or freelancing, with no personal story or opinion piece. I intend to change that in July.
One afternoon, I was watching the rain from my balcony. That’s when a new poem came to me. You can read that here: How Hard Would You Try to be Happy?
I also wrote a piece about how millennials and Gen-Zs have normalized so many habits which can actually be quite harmful. Read the article here: 3 Times Your Self-Love is Actually Self-Harm in Disguise.
If you’re looking for book recommendations, don’t forget to check out some of my favorite books here:
My new venture: The Books Are Our Superpower Book Club
I used to read four books a week when I was in my school. None of my friends read as much. I had so many ideas in my head that I was dying to discuss with someone else, but had to keep them all bottled up as so one seemed to read as much as I did.
It was always my dream to be part of a group of people who read more than I did, who had diverse tastes and could recommend me a book of whatever genre I wanted, and who were always available to discuss when I wanted to talk about a cool new book I read.
This was in the early 2000s when the internet still hadn’t come to India.
But now, since whole new worlds can be built with just one click of the mouse, I want to turn this childhood dream of mine into a reality.
I know there are many book lovers like me who struggle to fit into a world of non-readers. Why do they have to be alone? Why can’t we all bunch together and share the awesomeness of the love for books?
That’s how the Books Are Our Superpower Book Club was born. It’s a premium book club meant for hardcore book lovers. If you’re a casual reader, the book club is not for you.
The Books Are Our Superpower Book Club is soon going to be the coolest place on the internet to:
Nerd out about the books you love.
Read detailed, personalized stories and insights from books spanning several genres like fiction, psychology, history, world literature, creativity, and award-winning books.
Take part in exclusive author interviews.
Read new books before they’re published.
Meet new friends who are just as crazy about books as you.
Attend virtual book club meet-ups on Zoom each month where you get to meet the community and the team of writers.
Learn about all the cool new books releasing and everything interesting happening in the world of books.
Be part of a community to share the most interesting insights from amazing books you might never have the time to read on your own.
So, what are you waiting for? Become a member today!
Before we conclude, I’d love to tell you that no matter where you are on your journey of self-acceptance, you’re loved.
Here’s a virtual hug for you.
Note that I create this newsletter for you every week with lots of love. If you’d like to support me, here’s a link you can use to buy me a book.
If you found this letter useful, don’t forget to forward this to a friend or ask them to sign up for my newsletter. It’s free, and you know me, I only send valuable content.
That’s all from my end today. I’ll see you again next week. Till then, stay strong. Keep smiling and be awesome.
With love,
Anangsha.