However, we feel that we need to warn you that this is not a light read. Despite its ending, Life Is What You Make It is far from a filmy Hollywood romance in which the flight of the butterflies is interrupted merely for a few seconds because of a slight quarrel.
The main protagonist here is not exactly appealing, and the reason for this is a severe ailment: bipolar disorder. The book captures well both the highs of euphoria and the depths of despair that come with this mental malady, as well as the serious difficulties someone suffering from bipolar disorder may face in life.
In 2012 she published two novels: Tea for Two and a Piece of Cake and The Secret Wish List. The One You Cannot Have was released in 2013, followed by It Happens for a Reason in the last month of 2014.
Not only she is a great student, acing her tests and excelling in her extracurricular activities, she is also an all-rounder adored by absolutely everybody. In fact, she is soon elected to be the Arts Club Secretary, and, even sooner, makes a lot of friends.
Vaibhav and I were still in touch but not with the intensity as earlier. I think it was more out of a sense of duty that he called rather than anything else. I had not even noticed that his calls had trickled as I was so absorbed in Abhi and the other things that were going on in my life. I think the love I had for him was replaced by a kind of fond affection. Honestly, it did not matter to me anymore whether he called or not. It seemed as though Abhi and I had been through so much together and somewhere along the way, Vaibhav had been left far behind.
Years pass and Ankita is obsessed with a new agenda: getting into one of the top institutes in the country offering an MBA program. She gets an interview call from four of them, one of which is the most well-known one located in Bombay!
To make matters worse, her parents discover the love letters she had been exchanging with Vaibhav and Abhi. They burn them and scold her severely for them. Unsurprisingly, very soon, the darkness gets the better of Ankita: depressed and miserable, she tries to slit her wrists.
So, back in the present, Ankita is talking to Dr. Madhusudan who diagnoses her with bipolar disorder. He explains to her that what she went through is common and that there are two sides to it: a euphoric one and a despairing one.
Many famous historical figures and artists have had this. Yet they have led a full life and contributed so much to the society and world at large. See, you have a gift. People with bipolar disorder are very, very sensitive. Much more than ordinary people. They are able to experience emotions in a very deep and intense way. It gives them a very different perspective of the world. It is not that they lose touch with reality. But the feelings of extreme intensity are manifested in creating things. They pour their emotions into either writing or art or whatever field they have chosen.
If we take a moment each day to reflect and record our thoughts, it can become an invaluable practice which can transform your life . I've been writing daily journals ever since I can remember. It is an age-old tradition, which serves as a powerful tool for self-expression, personal growth, and emotional well-being.
Whether done in the form of pen and paper (I use an old fashioned fountain pen to this day!) or through digital means, this daily habit can be hugely beneficial. I am listing here a few of the ways it has helped me over the years.
Emotional Catharsis:Daily journaling acts as a cathartic outlet, allowing us to unload our burdens, frustrations, and anxieties onto the blank pages. By putting our thoughts and emotions into words, we create a safe space to process and release what weighs us down. This release can significantly reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall mental well-being.
Enhanced Self-Awareness:Regularly documenting our experiences and emotions grants us the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves. It provides a mirror into our innermost thoughts, desires, and fears. Journaling encourages self-reflection, helping us recognize patterns, identify triggers, and gain insights into our behaviors and beliefs. With increased self-awareness, we can make conscious choices to align our actions with our values and work towards personal growth.
Problem Solving and Decision Making:Writing in a journal allows us to analyze situations objectively and view them from a new perspective. It aids in problem-solving by enabling us to examine challenges, brainstorm ideas, and consider alternative solutions. By documenting our decision-making processes, we can trace the reasoning behind our choices and evaluate their outcomes. This reflective practice fosters a deeper understanding of ourselves and refines our ability to make well-informed decisions in the future.
Emotional Resilience and Gratitude:In times of adversity, daily journaling serves as an anchor, providing a means to express gratitude and find silver linings. By deliberately focusing on positive experiences, blessings, and lessons learned, we cultivate resilience and develop a more optimistic outlook. Reflecting on moments of joy, accomplishments, and personal growth can uplift our spirits and remind us of our capacity to overcome challenges.
Capturing Memories and Personal Growth:A journal chronicles the journey of our lives, preserving memories, experiences, and personal milestones. As time passes, revisiting these entries provides a precious window into the past, allowing us to relive cherished moments and witness our own growth. It becomes a testament to our evolving perspectives, aspirations, and achievements, fostering a sense of self-continuity and serving as a valuable resource for future reflection.
For me, my daily journal is a sacred space to unload my thoughts, nurture my emotional well-being, and to gain insights into my own mind. Most people start writing in a journal and then stop because they don't know what to write or it becomes boring as their daily routine never varies. One of the things you can do is to make each day different and interesting by focusing on a small thing that was different, which gave you joy.
Would you like me to create a course on Skillshare where I'd guide you to keep a daily journal? (Like a 14 day course where you follow a prompt and I help you make an interesting page each day? All the lessons would be delivered instantly by video. You could check out my course on Creative writing. to know the format.
The focus of the book is not Bipolar Disorder. Instead, it is around an individual, who had Bipolar Disorder, and rather than sit back and accept it, she decided to change her own destiny and make life what she wanted it to be. Bipolar Disorder is slowly gaining awareness in India but continues to be treated as somewhat of a taboo topic in most households. The book is based on a true story and when I first heard the story, it moved me so much that I decided it had to be written and shared with the world. The real life Ankita is a very inspirational person and since she had Bipolar Disorder, I had to do quite a lot of research on the disorder to be able to put myself in her shoes and write her story in a realistic fashion. This could happen to any of us and her courage and attitude is definitely worth emulating and hence LIWYMI.
It is a story that could have happened to anybody. It is a story of courage in the starkest of circumstances. My writing style has always been very down to earth and simple and I write from the heart. The amount of research that I did before I wrote the book helped tremendously in portraying the characters in the book and bringing their emotions alive. A number of people ask me if it is my story and that is when I feel that my effort, research and work have paid off, since only if you actually get into the skin of someone who has gone through something like this, would it turn out so well. The real life Ankita loves the book. I also find that there are so many readers who have gone through life facing similar challenges and this formed an instant connect with the book.
Blogging was what I started off with. It connected me to people and the responses I received from various people motivated me to write more and more. Writing regularly has paid rich dividends when my books were published, since it was my writing over a period of time that helped evolve my own, personal style of writing. My blog is now amongst the top 10k blogs in the world and I will always have that connect with my readers and am thankful to all of them for motivating and encouraging me when I had started off and continuing to be with me on my blog.
I am working on second full length fiction. I cannot disclose more details about it at the moment! Am also working on a 4th book which will be a second jar of bubblegums and candies, based on popular demand.
Your writing revolves a lot around life and its beauty, the challenges and the aspect of facing them. If I were to ask you to tell us five things you would tell anybody to live life like it should be lived, what would they be?
A lot of people think that by writing a few blog posts you could easily become an author. Becoming a published author and that too a successful one, is not as easy a task as most people normally perceive. There is a lot of back-breaking hard work involved. You need to breathe, dream and think about it. You need to write, write and write more. In addition, read a lot. All this will help you define your own writing style, improve your writing skills and will help you succeed. There is no short cut involved and this will take a lot of time and effort. I have spent hours writing late into the night and not sleeping properly for days on end since there were so many things that needed to be done simultaneously including managing a family. Initially you could feel disheartened and want to give it all up, but stick to it. And finally, when it does happen it is exhilarating and completely worth it.
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