Reciprocal| Journal Junction

Finding My Authentic Voice in a Conservative Society

July Month Prompt Of Journal Junction

Sahil Patel
Reciprocal

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Photo by whereslugo on Unsplash

In India significant number of households adheres to conservative values for various historical, cultural, and societal reasons. Most of the families prefer to follow the traditions and customs that have been passed down from generations.

Many families still live in a joint family. Growing up in such a conservative family many such beliefs I have instilled in myself without even knowing about it. One of such belief that I internalised is that expressing my true thoughts and feelings was inappropriate and dis-respectful.

In our community, respecting authority and keeping peace often meant not sharing personal thoughts or opinions. I remember times when my opinions or feelings were dismissed, making me feel that my voice didn’t matter. This made me feel isolated and misunderstood, unable to connect deeply with others. I missed opportunities to pursue my interests and passions, and my identity became unclear. My self-worth was tied to conforming rather than being true to myself.

It was a pivotal moment when I realized the significance of self-expression. Embracing it has made me feel more genuine, liberated, and confident.

This week’s prompt is,

Can you share a self-belief you inherited from your family or society that you feel is inappropriate or limiting? Reflect on how it has impacted your life and describe your journey in challenging and overcoming it in a journal entry. Your insights might inspire others to reflect on their own beliefs.

I want to invite the writers of Reciprocal to share this week’s’s prompt. If you don’t want to get tagged do let me know via private notes. I will remove your name from the upcoming prompts. Thanks!

MarkfromBoston 🌻Ukraine Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles Sara Burdick Christina Ali Klara Jane Holloway Danielle Hestand Carmellita Breezy Pene Hodge Victoria Gregg Josephine Crispin Rodney Brazier Dr. Preeti Singh Marilyn Glover K.M. Fullerton Trista Signe Ainsworth Mulan Yana Bostongirl Ilana Lydia Martin L Shuck Monoreena Acharjee Majum Imani Talim Lucia Landini Umme Salma Sally Prag Vashni Stories Suma Narayan Tamil Dr. Fatima Imam Tara Desai Ph.D. Kris Bedenian Sujona Chatterjee Amy Rosie Penny Grubb Tyra Jaide Francis Edwards, published writer Elena Cooper Liberty Forrest, Author Jaylee Reign Patrick OConnell Hope Catherine McMillan T Mann Dennett Philippe Izedian Kaz Rochford B.R. Shenoy Divya Goswami June Kirri Margaret S. Obinna Uruakpa Kiki Lu Johnson Norlisa Alias Jamario Cantrell Hollie Petit, Ph.D. Ellen Baker Scott Younkin Ellie Jacobson Julie Ranson Maria Rattray Christina Sponias Neera Handa Dr. Anastasia S. Manyonga Sara Hardy Jean Elizabeth Glass Shameem Anwar Elise Paxson ☕️ Kaleb Shumway Bridie Dillon Diane Neill Tincher Mary Mahoney Rhea Anglesey Libby Shively McAvoy Martin French Bernie Pullen Kannan Natesan Story Taller Dawn Smiles Malena N Davis Carmen Dawn Paul Neathery Kamil Evon Angie Mangino Light-Hearted Vision Shereen Bingham Linda Locke Julie Gaeta Kunaal b Ashley J.J. White Angie Smartt Isla Orange Michelle Hargett Delia Pena-Gay Megan Llorente Carolyn F. Chryst, Ph.D. Main Kazi kt lee Mary Louisa Cappelli, MFA, JD, Ph.D. Sejal Chauhan Poet In The Arctic Desarae Black Cristina Cattai Drashti Shroff Pam Winter Kerstin Krause JF Danskin Regi Brittain Christine Vann, MSc. Leonard Tillerman Sandra Jasionowska Helen Miao Yu Sabrina Johnson 🌈LIFE LESSON Kacy Singh Amanda Laughtland Wendi Gordon Susan Alison Aakash Dahal WrittenMastery Ainur Roviq Jillian Amatt — Artistic Voyages Grace Leverich Craig Davishoff Alisha James U. Rizzi William Vincent Carleton Nikolaos Skordlils Michael L Butler Asim Nori Kimberlee Katemiya Rodrigo S-C Jennifer Thompson Bruce Noll Scot Butwell Barb Dalton 🇺🇦

KP Morgan-Jones (AKA Evolved Ashes) Jessey Anthony Suzie Alexander Elizabeth Kaldeck Smith Gulsun Uluer The Sober Vegan Yogi Le Voir N. Lewis Ravyne Hawke Connie Song Alize Henry Rebecka Rose May Y. Yang Madison Chaney Jenn Brownell jules Laura Jevtich Deb Fiore James Beaufait Ravneet Kaur Elisa Robyn Eddie Nitis Judy Walker Holly Thompson Elise Chidley Barbara Mac Misty Rae Remi Roy Missy

Marianne O Shaqib Akram Hein V Marie A. Rebelle Darren Richardson Jacob Laguerre Billie ❤️ Be Better — Do Better Nadja Scarlett CARMEN F MICSA, MA in English, podcaster Elder Taoist Gauri Sirur Monika Sharma Geoffrey Gevalt Kyle Aldous Moria Rees Elisa Robyn Esther George Saba Haider Yousuf Rafi Sandy Maximus Barbara Carter Debika Kumari Mani Goel Diltoshi Nakamoto Jenni Brennan, Changing Perspectives Dais Bergmann Tanner Hauck Ossai Ceejay Raghviberianand Hana Dinh Fatima Patricia Haddock Deola — The Bodacious You Valorie Lasley Amina Giselle Malini Kathryn Eriksen Deola — The Bodacious You Valorie Lasley Amina Giselle Malini Kathryn Eriksen Aza Y. Alam David Rudder Krishna V Chaudhary Carly Newberg Steffany Ritchie Gurusubramanian S Louise Foerster Mia Verita Allan Johnson M&Z Flutterby Aarti Tailor Naleen Mitchell Mia Verita Allan Johnson M&Z Flutterby Aarti Tailor Naleen Mitchell pencil & ashes (Ash) Shubha Apte Walter Pop Matthews IV Lalitha Brahma Caroline de Braganza Shiloh W. Abhimanyu Bhargava Brajendra Kumar Andrew Johnston Jennifer Dunne Sharing Randomly Rachel Maree Fatunla Samuel Corine Hilda Ahmen Sidahmed Shirley Laffa Janice Macdonald Robert G. Longpré Aurelia Bliss KL Simmons Jennifer Dunne Sharing Randomly Rachel Maree Fatunla Samuel Corine Hilda Ahmen Sidahmed Shirley Laffa Janice Macdonald Robert G. Longpré Aurelia Bliss KL Simmons Rui Alves

Cara Marie May’s Moments Claudiu Baciu Malky McEwan Rui Alves Warren Turner Heaven’s Healthy Healing Paradigmshftr Kimberly V. Garner Lee Travathan Deana K Rodriguez Mani Pathak Mostafa Atique Terry Day Jennifer Barrios Tettay arun

Chrissy Cordingley Babbling Biologist Ruby Lee Alex Skye Elena dL Akemi Sagawa Aakash Dahal Myriam Ben Salem🦋 Pantaleona wordsmithwriter Erika Burkhalter Anandhi Palaniappan Călina Mureșan

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Michelle Jimerson Morris Amelia Johne Minerva Singh Andrew Gaertner Skye Howell (she/her) Warren Turner Kerrie Gutierrez-Diaz

Eleni Anthi Psomiadou Crystal G. Tumble (Pen name) Gareth Willey 😊

Zomakahle Xulu Joe Merkle Gulya Kerimoğlu

Yvonne Laframboise Cosmin Nedelcu WritEon Dmitri Marine Jenny Austria Sanghita Pal Sheri Jacobs

Mario Duff Dave Karpowicz Paige Holloway Any freelancing service Mario Duff Marlana, MSW Janin Lyndovsky CJ McRae Pallavi

Tāriq Malik Sue S.A Adile Güngör Ray Wirth Maitiu Corbett Motaz Majed “My To-Do List is Laughing at Me!!!” Susan Craig Author Emily

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@Sahil Patel,2024

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Sahil Patel
Reciprocal

3× Top Writer in Poetry| Reading | Inspiration.