Devil That Resides In Me

By Saloni Jain

Me, sitting in a dark, empty room, surrounded by loud noises trying to get to me. There are

many voices and noises around; I couldn't help but notice the words and the sayings— "Hey

you, you are just MAD!" "Hey you, you are so lame and incompetent." "You are worthless!"

"You can never be good enough!" The more I sit there, the louder the voices become. They

echoed, bouncing off the walls of my mind, growing more deafening with each passing

second. I tried to run and run, but no matter where I went, they followed me everywhere. I

couldn't escape!

Desperation seeped into my soul. I thought of just living like this. I accepted it as fate. I lost

hope and started to think it was always me, and I might be like this forever. One day, I found

myself locked in a cage, even darker than the room I was in. The bars were cold, unyielding,

trapping me in a void of despair. No hope, just locked in darkness. I fainted, overwhelmed by

the weight of my own mind.

When I awoke, I was surrounded by all the things I was always scared of—the events, the

thoughts, every single thing that had happened to me, causing me trauma in the past. The

betrayal of friends, the failures, the moments of sheer humiliation—they all crowded around

me, suffocating. My chest tightened, and I felt the crushing weight of all my fears. I almost

lost hope, but then I saw a ray of light piercing through the darkness. It was faint, but it was

there. I saw many doors. All I needed was to find the right key to unlock them.

The first door was marked *Insecurity*. My mind flashed back to the countless times I

doubted myself—hesitating to speak up in meetings, feeling inadequate despite my

accomplishments. The key was *Confidence*. I realized that the more I believed in myself, the

less power my insecurities had over me. Taking small steps to assert myself, like speaking up

even when my voice trembled, was the key.

The second door bore the name *Anger*. I thought of the burning rage I felt when I was

wronged—times when I held grudges, letting the anger consume me. The key was

*Forgiveness*. Holding onto anger was like drinking poison and expecting the other person to

suffer. Forgiving others and myself released the hold anger had on me. Writing a letter of

forgiveness, even if I never sent it, was the key.

The third door was labeled *Self-Hate*. I recalled the harsh self-criticism that played on a

loop in my mind—calling myself a failure, focusing on every mistake. Its key was *Self-Love*.

Learning to accept myself, flaws and all, made me see my true worth. Practicing daily

affirmations and treating myself with kindness was the key.

The fourth door was named *Fear*. Memories of missed opportunities flashed before me—

times I let fear of failure or judgment stop me from pursuing my dreams. The key was

*Courage*. Facing my fears head-on, no matter how daunting they seemed, diminished their

power. Taking that first leap of faith, like applying for a job I wanted but felt unqualified for,

was the key.

The fifth door was *Despair*. I thought of moments of utter hopelessness—times when I felt

trapped in a cycle of negativity, unable to see a way out. The key was *Hope*. No matter how

dark things seemed, holding onto hope and the belief that things can get better kept me

moving forward. Setting small, achievable goals and celebrating every little victory was the

key.

As I found and used each key, the voices grew quieter. The darkness lifted, and I could see

clearly. I realized that these doors and keys were always within me. The demons I faced were

my own inner fears and doubts. Once I confronted them, I began to win the battle within.

Young friends, the greatest challenges you will face are not external but internal. It's the voice

inside you that haunts you. But remember, you hold the keys to your own liberation. Conquer

the inner demon, and you will discover your true strength.

Believe in yourself, embrace your journey, and never lose hope. The power to change your life

lies within you.

You are strong. You are capable. You are enough.

This motivational write-up aims to inspire young people to confront their inner fears and

insecurities, emphasizing that true victory comes from within. The narrative builds suspense

and offers heartfelt encouragement, encouraging the audience to believe in their ability to

overcome their challenges.

By Saloni Jain