Welcome to May. This month, our theme at The Mehta Way is simple but life-changing: Root Yourself.
To be rooted means to be so connected to your own truth that no storm and no person can shake your sense of what is right. It is about moving from a place of helplessness to a place of internal power.
What’s Inside
- The Weight of Silence: A personal look at a moment that changed my professional life.
- The Protector Trap: Why having support is a blessing, but finding your own voice is a necessity.
- A Mother’s Wisdom: The words that shifted my perspective from being “saved” to being “strong.”
- The 11-Month Transformation: Why growth doesn’t have a deadline and how to honor your own timeline.
- 5 Habits to Root Yourself: Actionable steps to trust your gut and build your “courage muscle.”
- A Personal Note: Why I choose to share my raw reality with you.
The Weight of a Silent “No”
Years ago, I found myself in a situation that felt impossible. I was 25, working under a senior professional who said something that chilled me to the bone. He questioned what I would do if he forced himself on me, implying I was powerless to stop it.
I didn’t have a comeback. I was paralyzed by fear. Perhaps for him, this was a “joke,” but for me, it was a terrifying reality. It revealed his total lack of respect for the professionals working under him. I left that job and carried that heaviness for months.
When he called my phone, I would turn it upside down just so I didn’t have to see his name. I was soft, I was polite, and I was terrified.
The Support and the Realization
At the time, my closest friend (who is now my husband) saw my struggle. He offered everything a supportive partner could: “Should I chip in? I can go and speak to him. I can pick you up and drop you.”
It was a kind, beautiful offer, but it sparked a vital question in my mind: For how long? Till when? Eventually, there would be a moment where I would be all by myself. I realized that if I didn’t learn to stand my ground now, I would be waiting for a savior forever.
A Mother’s Wisdom: The Turning Point
When I finally told my mother everything, she gave me the push I needed to bridge that gap between being “saved” and being “strong.” She told me: “Today we can save you… your father can go and speak to him. But tomorrow, who will? You will have to take a stand and tell him his behavior is inappropriate.”
It took me 11 months of a “journey of transformation” to go back to that office, look him in the eye, and say: “Your behavior was inappropriate. You scared me, and it was unjustified.”
The moment I spoke, the heaviness on my shoulders lifted. I wasn’t just speaking to him; I was finally listening to my mother’s wisdom, my husband’s support, and most importantly to myself.
1. Trust the “Innate Alarm”
If you feel something is wrong, it is. Your gut doesn’t need “proof” to be valid. Rooting yourself starts with believing your own senses over someone else’s “fun” or “jokes.”
2. Build the Muscle of Opposition
I began by opposing the little things. Anything and everything that seemed wrong to me, I started to oppose. Each time I stood my ground on a small matter, my courage grew. You train your voice on the small “no’s” so it is ready for the big ones.
3. From Polite to Powerful
Many of us are raised to be “innocent” and “polite.” We think that opposing someone is “rude.” But there is a difference between being kind and being a doormat. You can be a gentle person and still be a force that cannot be moved.
4. There is No Expiration Date on Your Voice
It took me 11 months to speak my truth. Whether it takes eleven minutes or eleven months, taking a stand is a victory. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for the time it took to find your courage.
5. Become Your Own Safest Place
While support from family and partners is a blessing, the real “lift” happens when you realize you are capable of protecting yourself. When you validate your own reality, you become your own safest place.
The Heart of the Matter:
This May, make a pact with yourself. If your gut says something is wrong, don’t try to “reason” your way out of it. Stand in it. Root yourself in it.
Take a stand today. Your shoulders will thank you.
A Personal Note:
The blogs I write and stories I share are my own real-life experiences. I share them with a lot of thought; some may judge, others may find them raw and honest. Sharing a part of my life is how I choose to write my blogs, and I hope you find strength in reading them.
Theme Song for this Post: Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire
What is one “small thing” your gut is telling you to oppose today, write in comments?
About the Author
“I am a lawyer and blogger who believes the law is best understood through the lens of common sense and human connection. Having been a part of the legal profession since 2011, I aim to bridge the gap between complex legalities and everyday life. Beyond the courtroom, I am a mother and a seeker of balance, finding peace in nature, the practice of yoga, the rhythmic flow of swimming, and the journey of self-growth. My mission is to help others navigate life’s tests with both legal clarity and emotional intelligence.”
