Eesha's Story

Hi, my name is Eesha Mehta, and I'm from Anaheim Hills, California. I've always been someone who loves connecting with people, whether it's through school, horseback riding, or creative projects, but for a long time, I struggled with connecting to myself in the same way. Growing up, I felt constant pressure to be enough, smart enough, pretty enough, successful enough, and that mindset made it hard to see my own worth without comparing it to someone else's.

Self-love has not been some aha moment for me; it's a process of unlearning. I used to think confidence meant always feeling good about yourself, but I've learned it's more about being kind to yourself even when you don't. My struggles often showed up as perfectionism-believing that one mistake defined me, or that I needed to meet impossible standards in order to deserve rest or pride. Real self-love comes from small, consistent acts of grace: giving myself time to breathe, surrounding myself with people who genuinely care, and reminding myself my worth is not dependent on how much I accomplish.

I've also seen how many people, especially teens and young adults, share this same silent battle. We all are trying to live up to curated versions of perfection that actually don't exist. What has helped me most is learning to talk about it openly. Friends, mentors, and journaling have played a role in helping me untangle those negative thoughts. Now, I try to celebrate the little victories and allow space for imperfection, because that's what makes us real.

Self-love is not something that I have mastered, but rather something I practice, and each day, I get a little better at choosing compassion over criticism.