The brain is beauty: Rojisha Shahi

When one imagines a former Miss Nepal pageant winner’s career path, it would seldom diverge into one that pertains to dealing with the human psyche on a daily as psychologist, one would be lead to believe a career in acting or modeling or something close to the media world is the be-all end all, but Rojisha Shahi is the exception to his rule, she’s completed media and today emerges as one of the upcoming psychologists in the nation and so much more.

“If I were to describe myself it would be as a person who always looks forward, I’m persistent in always wanting to seek growth. I simply love that feeling when I’m getting stuff done and moving ahead on a personal level. I’m always looking for the next thing I want to do. My mom often uses the words “Ashantusthi” to describe me,” jests Shahi.

Having gotten her degree in Psychology from Tribhuvan University, Shahi has been working in the field for 2 years. A relative newcomer to the scene, today, she is a full-time psychologist at Healthy Minds Nepal. “As a psychologist I think I’m friendly and a rather bubbly character in conversation. In most of the feedback I’ve had from patients they say when talking to me feels like they’re talking to a friend which makes me really happy. I deal with a lot of young teens throughout the day and I believe I can relate and cater to them a lot better from a professional standpoint as I’ve been through similar experiences as well.” affirms Rojisha.

Besides working at Healthy Minds, Shahi also works as a School Counselor at Paragon School, “I believe resolving the stigma surrounding therapy and seeking help in Nepal must begin from the very grassroots level, working with kids inculcating them from a young age that its okay to speak about your issues and seek help is the way to move forward.” adds Shahi.

Starting off early in the morning with work out sessions and exercises, Shahi likes to lead a serene life, “stuff gets pretty intense here on the couch at work, hence I like to lead a more calm life outside of work, at work i deal with 4-6 client a day then go to the school I work at.” “I have a cousin I share things with who's constant with me, there’s also my parents who I make a point to converse with every night as they love hearing about my day” informs Shahi.

For the bright early career Shahi has had up to date, her lead up to entering the human mind and healing it wasn’t as Zen and merry. A former Miss Nepal and beauty pageant winner Shahi looks back at her experience in the media world as not ‘overtly positive’, “I was 19, beauty pageants seemed like all the rave to gain the exposure one needed for the media world, I was quite tall so my family and friends encouraged me to join up the pageant and I ended up winning it, however the very attention and publicity that was thrust on to me was the very reason a lot of problems surfaced too.” recounts Shahi. “For a 19 year old thrust into the limelight for the nation to view, the comments that were made on my body and the derogatory remarks on my English at the time left a lot of trauma and scars.” adds Shahi.

“The concepts of pageants promote a toxic culture of beauty, they should be obsolete in this day and age. The very idea of pitting beauty against beauty is superficial and empowers none but one, the winner.” says Shahi. “After the pageant I had a lot of issues with my weight and my perception of self,” she adds. In Shahi’s case, despite winning the pageant she still suffered from the fallouts of a concept that should be, in the modern lens, antiquated.

“My parents are the most supportive and sweetest people I know, they’ve backed every venture I’ve ever embarked upon, but despite having such a close bond with my parents, I hadn’t the heart to tell them of the mental trauma and the issues I was facing during my early 20’s for fear of worrying them to much.” Said Shahi about dealing with the trauma. “Thankfully, my mom having gone through a similar experience encouraged me to seek help and medication and it helped a lot.” she adds.

Today a reputed psychologist, Shahi says she looks back at the trauma she faces not as a negative experience but as one where she grew from. “Pain is a space for us to grow, and I wouldn't be the same person I am today without these experiences.” On dealing with the trauma Shahi says she says writing was a great medium to cope. An avid reader and writer having written for The Post, Shahi's books for the teens growing up to read were “1Q84” by Haruki Murakami. Encouraging the teens to read more fiction and read even more Nepalis literature Shahi adds, “The best way to deal with trauma is time, time is the best medicine; you’ll never forget the trauma, only learn from it, make sure you pick yourself back up and grow through the pain.”

“Having dealt with a number of young adults the common denominator to most of the issues surfacing today is self-esteem, we live in a judgmental society, and this judgment is almost inescapable may it be relatives, passer-byes or for adolescents social media, people want to be a certain way to fit certain ideals and lose their self-esteem when they don’t.” says Shahi on the problems our teens face.

“A lot of people will criticize you and judge you, don't be one of those people, you shouldn't be the one to put yourself down, rather the first sign of hope and help must come from within.”