Nine years ago, I was the good girl who followed the rules, ignored my intuition and listened to everyone else, except myself. In the process, I felt emotionally drained and energetically out of alignment.

Growing up as a woman of colour and Indian girl, I was often told how to think, act and behave within the community. From a young age, it's grained into you from the Indian community that a woman should people-please and sacrifice her own needs and bend over backwards for others, which is so wrong!

In my 20's, I began to discover who I was and suddenly being an educated woman, became a threat in misogynistic culture. I was branded as shameful for speaking my truth, for having opinions and for putting my needs first!

I was told to keep quiet, not speak my truth or I would shame on my family and my reputation would be ruined! As an empowered woman, I now understand how toxic the good-girl behaviour can be to your emotional, physical and spiritual health. That's why the inner work is key to setting yourself free.

As a child of two immigrant parents, I notice that many young women have spent their entire lives trying to please their parents and their community, while adapting to their western environment. So many, end up having a battle within themselves as their families expectations can weigh more heavily, than their own dreams and desires.

I was made to feel guilty for following my dreams, living away from home and for just being me. Within the Indian community, a young woman doesn't usually leave the house until she's married and often follows her parents choice in what career they should follow.

I'm grateful that in my 20's, I decided that enough was enough and went on a journey of self-love and healing, where I peeled off all my societal, ancestral, familial and cultural layers and realised who I truly was.

I believe the good-girl will always hold you back from shinning your inner light. You'll never feel complete and will always bend over backwards for others, while sacrificing your own needs.

A good girl will crush her dreams to make others stand tall. A good girl will suffer in silence. A good girl will spend her life being something she is not to make others feel better about themselves. A good girl will hold anger for decades and that might turn into health problem.

I know this, because that was me. Let's teach the next generation of women to be wild and free. Let's empower our sisters to be true to themselves.

And teach her:

* A WOMAN IS NOT A MAN'S PROPERTY.

* A WOMAN IS NOT HERE TO BE MISTREATED.

* A WOMAN IS NOT HERE TO BE TOLD HOW TO BEHAVE.

* A WOMAN IS NOT HERE TO BE TOLD WHAT'S BEST FOR HER.

* A WOMAN IS NOT HERE TO BE CONTROLLED.

* A WOMAN IS NOT HERE TO BE TOLD HOW TO THINK.

* A WOMAN IS NOT HERE TO BE TAMED.

* A WOMAN IS HERE TO BE WHOEVER SHE WANTS TO BE.

* A WOMAN IS HER OWN LIGHT.

* A WOMAN IS HER OWN POWER.

* A WOMAN IS HER OWN STRENGTH.

* A WOMAN IS IN CONTROL OF HERSELF.

* A WOMAN IS WILD AND FREE AND SHE CHOOSES TO BE WHO SHE WANTS TO BE.

May We Rise,