At BrilliantRead Media, our aim is to bring to our community some of the unique and compelling stories from the start-up ecosystem. As part of this endeavour, we invited yet another passionate entrepreneur – Damini Grover for an exclusive interview with us. She is a Leader, Entrepreneur, Psychologist, Emotional Empowerment Coach, Mentor, and Founder of I’M Powered. Let’s learn more about her inspirational journey, her background and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Damini:
We are aware of your contribution to the ecosystem, talk us through your background and your journey, please;
I did my schooling from Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram. I completed my B.A. in Psychology Honours from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University & Masters in Counseling Psychology from Amity University where I was awarded the Gold Medal for excellence in Academic Achievement.
It was very clear from the beginning that I wanted to work independently and started my own practice and built it up gradually.”
I have always been interested in multiple things and I like to engage myself in different things. I am also a CELTA certified English Language Trainer for Adults and I juggled both the fields for about a year before getting into Counseling & Therapy full time. I realized very early on that working with individuals would require me to have a wide range of skills and a lot of knowledge about different aspects of life.
I went onto become a Master Practitioner of Hypnotherapy and it opened up a whole new world of looking at and working with deeper issues & concerns. Since then, it has only been a journey of growth & learning. I have certifications in various therapies and am also a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner & Facilitator & Life Coach.”
Apart from Psychology, I have always been passionate about Dancing and have been a Latin & Ballroom Instructor as well. Writing is very close to my heart. From scribbling poems in my diaries, I eventually graduated to writing a Hindi poetry book. I write for the Elephant journal as well and I have a self-help book coming soon.
All these interests & experiences have added richness to my counselling & therapy work where I’m able to look at life from a wider perspective. Over time, the canvas of my life and work has only expanded.
What made you passionate about psychology?
Somewhere, I believe that I was destined to do what I’m doing. Despite having multiple interests; understanding people, their world, their pain comes organically to me.
The realization that I’m able to contribute to somebody else’s life either through my experience, knowledge or wisdom is what makes me passionate about this field.”
I am a firm believer in the fact that we all have everything within us that is needed to create a meaningful life. Sometimes, we just need someone to help us shine some light on those.
‘I’M Powered’ is such a unique name; talk us through more about it, please. Our audience would also love to know what kind of problem you are solving with the help of your startup?
I believe that “We all have the power to be empowered”.The name ‘I’m Powered’ derives from the fundamental concept that we all have a basic power – the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way. Some call it a survival instinct, some gut feeling or willpower.
There is something innate in us that drives us to understand things in a certain way, act in accordance with what works for us and push ourselves to work on issues and make things right.”
It is this power that lies at the heart of our being and self- exploration. Sometimes, we all find ourselves in situations that force us to question our thoughts, emotions and abilities and it is then that we need to be reminded that we all have the power to explore, resolve and change to become better than what we are today.
I believe that all we need to do is to expand this sense of power that we all carry through the necessary help and guidance that we may need at a particular time and become empowered. A sound mind creates a sound body.
All we need to do is believe and allow ourselves to use our innate capabilities to grow and evolve.”
I wouldn’t say I’m trying to solve anything. Rather, my endeavour is to create a sense of self-awareness through the work that I’m doing with individuals & groups. Change or any kind of shift begins from the inside out and self-awareness is the key to it. Hence, I aim to shine a light on the power, capabilities & resources that all of us have, to create the lives that we want.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
The fact that I feel that I’m making a valuable contribution in someone’s life, even if it’s in a small way, drives me.
Understanding psychological, emotional and physical challenges don’t come easily to all. People who are struggling, sometimes find themselves lonely, misunderstood and helpless. In my journey of life, I have been there on many occasions, so I know how that feels.
Being able to facilitate a meaningful shift for someone, where they become emotionally empowered, fills my heart with joy.
After all, life is nothing but a huge book of lessons!
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My own parents have been my biggest source of motivation throughout my life.
They have seen, fought with and overcome so many hardships through their own hard work, determination and perseverance. Whatever I am today, is because of their unconditional support.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
There are certain values that have always facilitated my growth & evolution –
1 – Optimism – being optimistic despite challenges.
2 – Hard-work & Perseverance
3 – Constant focus on self-growth & learning
4 – Focusing on my own well-being
How difficult/challenging is it to create an awareness about mental health especially in Indian societies?
Social media and especially the pandemic has created a tremendous amount of awareness and interest in the field of mental & emotional health & personal development.
While barriers still exist where people are still resistant to either acknowledge the presence of psychological difficulties or seek help, things are quite different from what they were years ago.
It is difficult yet not impossible. Consistency in spreading knowledge & awareness is the only way to break the taboos and resistance that people still have.
Please share with us, how do you motivate your clients?
I only facilitate the process of self-awareness. Once they become aware of their own internal blockages and take steps towards healing and overcoming them, they are able to move in a direction that feels natural to them.
I aim to emotionally empower my clients so that they can begin to rely on themselves and make optimum choices for themselves.
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
A lot of things keep me going! My eternal love for music & dance gives me the much-needed boost every now & then. It lights up my soul. When I write, it helps me to release, relax, reflect and contribute.
Engaging in exercise helps me to stay energized and I ensure that I take time off whenever I feel the need to.
On occasions when I feel that I need someone to lift me up when my spirits are down, I reach out to my loved ones and mentors.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
While success can mean different things to different people, I think that some key ingredients would be –
i) Self-Confidence
ii) Optimism
iii) Perseverance
iv) Learning oriented approach
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
I would say that with so many options available now, students must aim to look at career options which they feel would be –
– Fulfilling – give them satisfaction, joy and meaning
– Sustainable
– They should continuously strive towards enhancing their knowledge & skill set.
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.
