Unwinding with Conversations: Coffee & More Returns with Insightful Reflections

Coffee & More offered a safe space for students to pause, reflect, and build healthier approaches to everyday challenges.

As the semester gears up with deadlines, readings, and exams, Ashoka’s AURA team brought a refreshing pause with its second Coffee & More (CAM) session of the year. Aimed at creating safe spaces for dialogue around everyday challenges, this session focused on a critical yet often stigmatised topic: Substance Use and Its Long-term Impact on Personal Well-being.

The session was led by Dr Arvinder J Singh, Founder and Director of the Ashoka Centre for Well-Being (ACWB), and the evening encouraged students to reflect on their choices and the environments they navigate. Dr Singh unpacked the blurry line between use, misuse, and abuse, sharing that substances, be it paracetamol, cigarettes, or alcohol, can shift from casual use to dependency when not approached mindfully. She emphasised the importance of pausing and asking oneself, “Is this helpful in the long run?”

Drawing attention to the TFA cycle: Thought, Feeling, Action. Dr Singh explained how our thoughts often lead to feelings and, eventually, to actions. The key lies in breaking this cycle by being present and aware, especially when dealing with emotional triggers. “Thought is powerless without action,” she noted, encouraging students to delay gratification and redirect energy toward healthier distractions.

The conversation also touched on the significance of social support. Whether it’s being a “2 a.m. friend” or simply knowing someone is there for you, nurturing strong relationships can be a powerful antidote to negative coping mechanisms. Dr Singh urged students to surround themselves with uplifting people and to invest in friendships and community, sources of strength that sustain us in challenging times.

Through open conversations, warm coffee, and a judgment-free space, CAM continues to help students make informed decisions and build resilience. The event was a gentle yet powerful reminder that every choice we make, big or small, has consequences, and that our well-being is worth the care and mindfulness it deserves.

– Written by Chanda Kumari, ASP 2025