Here’s the story for the day, The author is a Lecturer English a, a Resource person and an Innovative content working with Education Department -Directorate of Education, Govt of Delhi, India.

STORY 16

**The Journey Within A Tale of Self-Discovery**

In a bustling city surrounded by towering skyscrapers, there lived a young woman named Mira. From the outside, her life seemed perfect. She had a respectable job, a lovely apartment, and friends who adored her. Yet, deep within, Mira felt a growing sense of emptiness. No matter how much she achieved, there was a void she couldn’t fill—a nagging feeling that she wasn’t truly living her purpose.One evening, after another long day at work, Mira sat by her window and gazed at the twinkling city lights. “Is this all there is?” she whispered to herself.

The question echoed in her heart. She realized that for too long, she had been living according to the expectations of others—pursuing a life that looked successful on the outside but felt hollow within.In search of answers, Mira decided to take a leap of faith. She packed her bags and set off on a journey, not to any particular destination, but to explore the world and, more importantly, herself. She didn’t know what she was looking for, but she trusted that somewhere along the way, she would find it.

Her journey took her to faraway lands—mountainous villages, serene lakes, and quiet forests. Along the way, Mira met people whose lives were vastly different from hers. She spent time with an elderly woman in a small coastal town, who had lived through the changing tides of life with grace and wisdom. The woman spoke of the sea, of its unpredictable nature, and how it had taught her to let go of control and trust in the flow of life.“You can’t command the ocean, child,” she said with a warm smile. “But you can learn to sail through its waves.”

These words resonated with Mira. She had spent so much time trying to control every aspect of her life, believing that her worth was tied to her achievements. But here, away from the city’s rush, she was learning to embrace the unknown, to let go of the need for perfection.As the months passed, Mira found herself changing in ways she hadn’t expected. She started to appreciate the simple moments—the warmth of the sun on her face, the sound of birds singing in the morning, the joy of a shared meal with strangers who felt like friends.

Slowly, the layers of expectation and pressure began to peel away, revealing a person she had long forgotten: her true self.One day, while hiking in a dense forest, Mira stumbled upon an ancient tree. Its gnarled roots twisted deep into the earth, and its branches stretched high toward the sky, as if embracing both the ground and the heavens. She sat beneath the tree, feeling its steady presence, and in that moment, something clicked within her.

She realized that self-discovery wasn’t about finding some grand external purpose or title. It was about coming home to herself, embracing her own roots, and understanding that her worth was inherent—not something she needed to prove.

Mira smiled as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had spent so long searching for herself in the outside world, but the truth was always within. It had been there all along, quietly waiting for her to turn inward and listen.When Mira returned to the city, she was no longer the same person who had left.

She was grounded, confident, and at peace. She had discovered that life’s true journey was not about chasing achievements or fitting into society’s mold. It was about embracing who she was—her flaws, her strengths, her unique story—and living from that place of authenticity.

She no longer sought validation from the world, for she had found it within. And in doing so, she realized that her true purpose was to live fully, unapologetically, and with deep self-awareness.

### **Moral of the Story:**Self-discovery is not about seeking validation from the outside world or achieving perfection. It’s about embracing who we truly are, with all our strengths and flaws, and finding peace in our own authenticity. True fulfillment comes when we stop trying to meet external expectations and instead listen to the quiet voice within, guiding us toward our true self.