Dreams Unlocked: My Mrs. India Journey

A year ago, if someone has told me that I would be standing on the brink of competing in the prestigious Mrs. India Queen of Substance pageant, I would have laughed nervously and quickly changed the subject. Not because I didn't belive in myself - but because, like so many of you, I have spent years putting others first. I was so immersed in the demands of my family, career,and everyday responsibilities that I lost sight of my own dreams. Somewhere along the life journey I stopped asking myself what I truly wanted, what aspirations are worth chasing, and what I really want to do with my life. Those questions felt unnecessary - like they didn't even belong in the busy life I had created. 

Have you ever found yourself so immersed in life's daily grind that you lost sight of your own aspirations? I know I did. 

And then something changed. 

One evening, after tending to everyone's needs as usual I crashed onto my couch craving for some "me" time. And ofcourse, this meant scrolling & binge watching the social media contents. As i was mindlessly scolling through YouTube, one word grabbed my attention "Mrs.India" , this was an interview with a former Mrs. India contestant. In that interview she soke about her journey - about balancing her family, career, and personal dreams. She was a woman just like me - juggling many roles and responsibilities. Yet, she had managed to chase her dreams without apology. And it occured to me, if she could do it, why couldn't I?

That question sparked somethng within me. At that moment , on my couch I realized that I had been waiting for permission to dream. Waiting for the right time to act. Sadly the truth is, the right time doesn't come unless we make it. So I decided, it was time to reclaim my dream and purpose of my life.It was at that moment as usual the imposter started kicking in.  I was not ready to lose my decision this time to my fear and anxities. Instead this time I was ready to fight it. Usually when these kind of fight happens between my heart and brain , brain typically wins with its logical and analytical reasoning abilities. 

So after endless conversations and debate with myself I chose to take that bold step forward, not just for me, but for the woman I knew I was meant to be. The Mrs.India pageant represented more than just a crown - it embodies empowerment, grace and the audacity to dream big. 

And here I am today, in the final stages of preparations for this life changing experience. 

And when it comes to blogs it is just words on a page until you truly understand who's behind it, what drives them, and why they're sharing their story to you right? So, lets take a moment to introduce myself - not just as a writer, but as someone who's living this journey, learning, growing and evolving every day. 

I'm Jyothi Lekshmi - someone balancing the roles of a mother, a professional, a mentor and now , an aspiring beauty queen on a mission. Just like you , or may be one of your neighbour next door. I wear many hats - wife, career woman, mentor, mother,daughter - and for so long, I put my own passion and dreams on the back burner. I become so consumed with caring for everyone else that I lost sight of my own aspirations.

Returining to our topic ,after that pivotal moment of inspiration, I began to research more about the pageantry and its purpose. What I found deeply resonated with me. And let me tell you this Mrs. India pageant isn't about being perfect or fitting a mold; its about embracing your unique story, your struggles and your strength. It's about being unapologetically ambitious and beliveing in yourself, no matter the stage you're at in life. 

This blog, "With Love, Jo" was born out of that decision. It's a space where I can share the journey - raw, real and unfiltered.My story is rooted in the same struglgles, dreams and aspirations that many of you face. I'm not here to tell you that I've figured it all out.I'm still figuring it out, just like you. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that chasing your dreams isn't selfish.It's an act of self-love.When we take the time to nurture our passios, it not only helps us grow, but it empowers those around us to do the same. And I believe we learn the most when we are honest and open about where we're truly at. 

Why should you listen to me? Because, I've been where you are. Spending years sacrificing and tryng to fit into a status quo. I want to be able to share what I have learned and empower you to outgrow that need to fit within a checkbox that someoe else defined. In this journey what I realize is that it's never too late to chase those dreams, no matter where you are in life. 

Think for a momet - when was the last time you truly invested in yourself? When ws the last tie you asked yourself, What would it look like if I followed my dreams? We often ask these questions for everyone else, but what if we start asking them to ourselves instead?

And if you're wondering whether it's possible to pursue your passions while juggling everything else, i'm here to tell you - it is. And I want you to know that you're not alone on this journey. Let's do this together. 

Through this blog, I'll take you behind the scenes of my pagent journey - the workouts, the rehearsals, the glamorous gowns - but more importantly,I'll share the deeper shifts that have happened within me: the self - discovery, the doubts, the breakthroughs. This is about more than just a title or a crown. It's about becoming the women we were always meant to be. 

I hope you'll join me on this journey. Let's create a community of women who suppirts each other, celebrate every success and face our challlenges with grace and resilience. Together, we can inspire each other to wear our crowns - whether they 're made of gold or forged from the strength and love we carry within. 

Are you ready to step into your power?Let's shine together. 

- Jyothi Lekshmi ,IT Program Manager,MrsIndia Finalist,aspiring blogger/writer,Canada NB