Dr. Jacqueline Kumar, Ph.D.
Specialist in the Philosophy of Emotion, Moral Decision-Making, and Moral Psychology
I’m Jacqueline
Dog lover. Travel enthusiast. Philosopher at heart. Empathy advocate.
My journey is both professional and deeply personal.
As a specialist in the philosophy of emotion, moral decision-making, and moral psychology, I bring a wealth of academic expertise to my work. But beyond the credentials, I’m here as someone who was stuck in the same place you might be finding yourself in right now.
Before I share the stories of others, I want to acknowledge something important: I’ve been where you are. The fears, the doubts, the feelings of being unworthy of love—I’ve lived them too. My journey to self-worth was not easy, and it’s this personal experience that drives my passion to help others find their way.
In my work, I focus on empowering women who, despite their many achievements, still struggle with deep, lingering fears—fears of being alone, of not being enough, of never finding the love they deserve. These fears aren’t just abstract concepts; they are deeply personal experiences that resonate with me and many others. My mission is to guide women towards a stronger sense of self-worth, helping them embrace their true selves and build the fulfilling lives and relationships they deserve.
Your story is just beginning - I’d be honored to be a part of it.
My “aha” moment
This moment is deeply tied to my Ph.D. research on empathy—but not in the way I expected.
For years, I thought empathy meant giving endlessly, loving unconditionally, and sacrificing parts of myself to make others happy. I thought if I could just be enough—good enough, kind enough, patient enough—then maybe I would finally be loved in return. But no matter how much I gave; it was never enough. I kept choosing the wrong relationships, ignoring red flags, and allowing my past wounds to dictate my present choices.
During my Ph.D., I spent years studying empathy—how it connects us, how it builds relationships, how it fosters understanding. But the deeper I got into my research, the more I realized something heartbreaking: I was pouring all my energy into understanding others, yet I did not understand myself.
I could analyze moral philosophy and ethical theories, but I could not answer the simplest question—Why did I not believe I was worthy of the same love I gave so freely? I remember sitting alone in my apartment late at night, surrounded by stacks of research papers, staring at the words I had written on self-empathy. And it hit me like a punch to the gut…
I was missing from my own life.
I had been fighting so hard to be what others needed that I had abandoned myself.
And I realized, with tears streaming down my face, that I could not keep living this way.
That moment broke me. But it also saved me.
I finally understood that empathy was not just about giving—it was about balance. It was about recognizing my own needs, my own voice, my own worth. I had to unlearn everything I had been taught about love and sacrifice. I had to rebuild from the inside out. So, I did.
I started setting boundaries, not because I did not care about others, but because I finally cared about myself. I stopped chasing love that made me feel small. I let go of the fear that if I did not give enough, I would be abandoned. And in doing so, I did something I had not previously thought possible - I found me. So now, I ask you the same question: Who do you need to become in order to build a life that truly aligns with your values? This journey begins with embracing empathy as your superpower, starting by learning to love and value yourself first.
Once you do that, everything else will fall into place and you will thrive.