At BrilliantRead Media, it is our constant endeavour to identify and share some of the unique and compelling stories from the startup ecosystem. As part of this, we invited Anuja Harivallabhdas for an interview with BrilliantRead Media. She is an Entrepreneur, Coach, Leader, Mentor, Consultant, Influencer and Change Enabler. Anuja is the Founder at Beings of Light. Let’s learn more about her background, her inspiring journey so far and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Anuja:
Could you please talk us through your background and your journey?
My professional journey so far has been a varied one. I started as a Pre-School teacher, worked as an Event Manager for Kitab Khana, a well-renowned bookstore in the heart of South Mumbai, learnt German from Max Mueller Bhavan and then moved to Pune, where I worked as a German Language Specialist for Amazon, Germany. I also trade in the stock market.
I have recently embarked on my journey as a Learner Life Coach, working towards my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credentials from the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
My coaching philosophy is a simple one: we all hold the power within ourselves to not only change our lives but to change the world we live in as well.”
In short, we carry that beacon of light and hope within us. That is why I have named my company Beings of Light.
How did you discover your passion as a ‘Coach’?
The reason why I decided to become a Life Coach was due to my illness, which was a serious and complicated one, involving three surgeries, out of which, two were major surgeries.
During the years that I was ill, I learnt so much about the deeper meanings of life and understanding that the way we look at life can either make or break us as individuals.”
I would not be who I am if it had not been for my illness. It has changed and shaped my life for the better.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
I think the fact that, despite setbacks, I never give up, has been my greatest driver.
When things start looking challenging, I always remind myself that nothing is permanent and that this situation too shall pass. This is what drives me to keep moving forward.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
The biggest source of motivation for me has been my belief in the Universe and my daily spiritual practices of meditation and chanting.
My parents have always been my greatest support and have always motivated me to keep moving forward, as have my siblings.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
I always believe that living in the present moment, in the here and now, is the most important strategy that has helped me to grow as a person. It is a great way to remain grounded and brings a lot of clarity to decision making.
In your opinion what are the keys to success?
For me, these are the keys to success:
(a) Always accept responsibility for your decisions and actions.
(b) Practice gratitude daily.
(c) Do not compare your journey with anybody else’s.
(d) Practice self-love and self-care.
(e) Patience and perseverance are key.
(f) Honesty in one’s day-to-day dealing with oneself and others.
What advice would you give to our readers?
Life is a continuous journey. Take each day as it comes, work towards building a practice of self-reflection, and no matter what challenges that come your way, keep moving forward.
It is always tempting to look either back at the past or contemplate what the future will hold; however, in my opinion, this looking back or contemplating can make one lose their grip on reality.”
It is our day-to-day actions that help us grow as individuals; focus on these and life will always remain in a harmonious flow. Lastly, love, respect, and believe in yourself, first and foremost. If you do not, nobody else will- it is as simple as that.
Finally, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
So many things – it is the continuous learning and growing as an individual and as a life coach, that excites me. Being able to help my clients on their journey of self-exploration and self-awareness is what truly makes me happy. Challenges too are exciting in their own ways, as they lead me down new paths of discovery.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
