Finding inner peace through Life Lessons with Bianca

When I first got my hands on 'Life Lessons with Bianca,' I knew exactly where I wanted to be — Bengal Boi, my favourite place for a quality time. With the book tucked under my arm, I made my way there, settling in with a cup of tea, ready for two hours of uninterrupted reading.

Right from the first few pages, the book had a magnetic pull. Part one, titled 'Feeling Better About Yourself,' felt like a gentle nudge toward inner peace. It wasn't just another self-help manual, but rather a guide filled with practical and achievable ways to boost your self-esteem.

One of the things that stuck with me was its refreshing take on beauty. Instead of pushing conventional standards, it urged readers to value the things that truly matter — facial expressions, personality, kindness. There's this particular line that really resonated with me: "All of us can do one simple thing to improve our look: smile more." It's simple, yet profound, and it lingered with me long after I put the book down.

The book suggests some unconventional yet powerful ways to gradually build your confidence. One of these is striking up conversations with strangers—whether they're in the room with you or people society often overlooks, like beggars. It may seem unusual at first, but think about it: when you talk to strangers, they don't know you and are less likely to judge, and engaging with beggars, who we usually interact with by simply handing over some money, shifts the dynamic entirely.

These small, practical steps help nurture confidence from within. As you connect with others, you begin to feel more beautiful on the inside, which naturally boosts your self-esteem. Over time, this feeling of self-worth grows stronger, leading you to value and appreciate yourself more. This inner validation becomes a source of strength, allowing you to radiate confidence from the inside out. The book offers many such practical methods that, when applied consistently, help you build an unshakable sense of self-assurance.

A great focus is given to avoiding procrastination and self-discipline from an early age. This is such an important lesson which guides and provides us with some life-changing tips. It is highly related to our current lifestyles where we are occupied and consumed by social media which hampers our studies and work.

The book suggests some unconventional yet powerful ways to gradually build your confidence. One of these is striking up conversations with strangers—whether they're in the room with you or people society often overlooks, like beggars. It may seem unusual at first, but think about it: when you talk to strangers, they don't know you and are less likely to judge, and engaging with beggars, who we usually interact with by simply handing over some money, shifts the dynamic entirely.

These small, practical steps help nurture confidence from within. As you connect with others, you begin to feel more beautiful on the inside, which naturally boosts your self-esteem. Over time, this feeling of self-worth grows stronger, leading you to value and appreciate yourself more. This inner validation becomes a source of strength, allowing you to radiate confidence from the inside out. The book offers many such practical methods that, when applied consistently, help you build an unshakable sense of self-assurance.

When it comes to success, we all have different images of success in our heads; wealth, prestigious designations and powerful positions, getting married and so on. But the book diverts your attention to other factors like spending time with family members, taking time to enjoy nature, doing some meaningful and valuable activities while living the moment. After reading this section, you really think about what makes you feel good and truly happy in life. 

As you approach the final chapters of the book, the author gently guides you through some of life's most challenging moments—topics we often struggle to navigate, like sex, improving relationships, aging, and death.

It's a short, thoughtfully designed book, brought to life with charming illustrations of stuffed animals. The read itself is light, fun, and engaging, but the lessons run deep. Divided into five parts with twenty life lessons, the book radiates kindness—both toward oneself and others—reminding us of the overlooked beauty in life's smaller moments, often dismissed by societal expectations. It offers a simple but profound recipe for a life that's both happy and fulfilling.

The book's author, Debra Efroymson, an American-Bangladeshi writer and activist, brings a wealth of international experience to her work. Having lived and worked across Africa and Asia, including in Guatemala, Vietnam, Nepal, and Bangladesh, she has a remarkable ability to present familiar ideas from fresh and insightful perspectives.

The book is available at the Rokomari website.