Be your own sun: Why chase fireflies?

Kaal Yogi
May 20
3 min read

A Raw Conversation on Self-Worth, Inner Strength, and Reclaiming Your Power

Recently, I witnessed a deeply honest exchange between a man named A. and Devi Kalikanath —a spiritual mentor known for cutting through illusions with clarity and love. What unfolded was a mirror for so many of us navigating low self-esteem, generational conditioning, and the exhausting cycle of people-pleasing.

The Root of Low Self-Esteem

A. began simply: "I have low self-esteem."

Kalikanath responded, not with pity, but with a question that pierced deeper: "Why?"

A. admitted, "I'm afraid of not measuring up—to my father, to others’ expectations. I'm scared of being beat up—emotionally, spiritually, etc."

Kalikanath’s response was clear and compassionate:

"Don’t compete with your father. You were born with your own blueprint—your own gifts. No one else on this planet can be you. You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone. Just give your full presence and effort in whatever you do. That’s enough. Period."

We carry the weight of needing validation, but it’s often a burden rooted in illusion. Kalikanath emphasized that others' opinions only have power if you let them. "Don’t let their voices become Mount Everest in your mind. Take a mental note—and let it go."

Why Do People Try to Tear You Down?

A. reflected, "Because they know I’m weak."

Kalikanath flipped that perspective:

"No. They feel threatened by your light. People who are hollow inside project their own fears. Their jabs and criticism are not about you—it’s about what they lack."

So many of us absorb the projections of others as truth. We internalize others’ insecurities as our own flaws. But what if the criticism is just a mirror of their fear, not a reflection of our worth?

You Are Giving Away Your Power

"You’re letting people kick you around like a football. Why? Because you’ve handed them the power."

This was the heart of the message: when you live to please others, you’re digging your own hole—and handing them the shovel.

Kalikanath put it bluntly:

"The more you people-please, the more you lose respect—from others and from yourself. You must stop. Please yourself. Speak your truth. Carry yourself with confidence. Let your aura say: ‘I mean business.’"

Reclaiming Your Blueprint

You weren’t born to live in someone else’s shadow. Kalikanath reminded us that our uniqueness is our divine design:

"There is no one else like you. Why are you trying to step into someone else’s blueprint when your own is sacred?"

Healing doesn’t happen overnight. "Forty years of conditioning can’t be cleared in four days—but it can start now." Self-worth is a daily practice. It’s about showing up, doing the inner work, and being willing to face uncomfortable truths.

Stop Filling the Void with Emptiness

A. admitted he was acting out of habit—trying to fill a void.

Kalikanath said it straight:

"Then fill the void with something real…truth. Not with people who drain you. Not with smallness. Not with fear. Fill it with strength, with light, with truth."

Even feelings of betrayal—from parents or loved ones—must be seen for what they are. Control and judgment often come from weakness, not strength.

"Those who try to control you are the most insecure. People filled with Divine Grace don’t need anyone’s approval."

What Legacy Are You Leaving?

Kalikanath didn’t sugarcoat it:

"If you keep living like this, you’re not just digging your own grave—you’re digging your children’s too. They don’t deserve to inherit this pain. You have to break the cycle."

This is about more than just A. It’s about all of us. The silent battle within—between fear and truth, between pleasing and honoring ourselves—is one we each must face.

"Stop being the lost sheep. Be the divine light. Find your strength and walk in it—every single day."

Final Words: You Are the Sun

Kalikanath left A. with a final, soul-shaking reminder:

"Why are you chasing fireflies when you are the sun?"

We forget. We dim ourselves. We defer to others. But the truth is—we were never meant to live small.

Reflection Questions

Why are you giving your power away for the sake of approval?
What conditioning are you willing to challenge in order to reclaim your truth?
Who would you be if you stopped people-pleasing and started honoring your soul?

If this resonates, consider sitting with these questions. Journal. Meditate. And remember: your journey is yours alone, but you were never meant to walk it as anything less than the radiant being you are. If you need any support or clarity on similar issues which are troubling you, please reach out to let us know. We are here to help.

You are the sun.