Interview with Dr Smita Ghosh | Counselling Psychologist | Happiness Navigator | Healer | Researcher | Lifestyle and Mental Health Coach | Founder Director Mi Merak
At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring to our community some of the finest stories from the entrepreneurship world. As part of this endeavour, we invited a passionate entrepreneur – Dr Smita Ghosh for an exclusive interview with us. Dr Smita Ghosh is an Entrepreneur, Leader, Psychologist, Healer, Researcher, Coach and Mentor. She is the Founder & Director of Mi Merak. Let’s learn more about her inspiring journey, her background and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Dr Smita:
Talk us through your background and your journey, please.
My professional journey so far has helped me cross-pollinate ideas across a wide variety of industry sectors, including Alternate Healing, Psychosocial Counseling, Content Development, Research Writing, Coaching for Happiness (Navigator), Empathy and Founder of Mi Merak.
I followed an academic path, graduating in commerce from Mumbai University at the same time pursuing Computers from Aptech.
But I always had a passion for helping people and making a difference and thanks to my curious nature, strong innate healing abilities and healing sense led me to learn Reiki and other alternative modalities of therapies.”
At only 17 years I completed Reiki – Master level. Further, I also completed the 3rd level in Hypnotherapy from the EKAA foundation.
Later my aspiration to discover and learning new things led to pursuing MA in psychology after almost a gap of 12 years.
A quote which I truly believe in is – ‘Dreams don’t work unless you take action.”
I dreamed of becoming a Doctor and it became a reality when I completed my PhD.
How did you discover your passion in ‘Psychology’?
Through iterative planning intertwined with continuous shifts in execution. Over the last 25 years, I have taken up numerous projects in my areas of interest.
In due course of time, these initiatives helped me identify the areas of my Core Passion – Psychology. Though the transition from commerce background to psychology was not sudden.
Reiki was the start of my journey in that direction. During pursuing MA in psychology, I felt that I have a gift of understanding the psyche of humans and then I felt it was my duty to bring a massive change in society simply by following my journey as a holistic mental health therapist.”
I have also completed a Certificate course in Special Education and a diploma in mental health from Nimhans Digital Academy.
I specialize in CBT, Positive Psychology, and counselling techniques to improve psychological and mental health. I am also a happy life coach.
I have also done a Certificate Course in Emotional Development in Children from DDF Social e-Learning (backed by European Association for Distance Learning Spain) and Certificate Course in Leading Change: Go Beyond Gamification with Gameful Learning – University of Michigan (Online).
Please share with us the concept of Mi Merak?
Mi Merak, in simple words, means finding pleasures and happiness in everything around us.
At Mi Merak, we strive to enable human beings to go through this process of Self Discovery.
We at Mi Merak follow the art of SELF DISCOVERY through the technique of C3T- Counseling, Coaching, Consulting & Training through the following mode:
S – Self Awareness
E – Emotional Development
L – Learning -Unlearning – Relearning Theory
F – Focus Training for Total Development
By Discovery of Need Analysis – Skill Gap – Strength – Weakness – Goal
What makes you Unique?
‘We all are born Unique with a Unique Narrative to tell’
My unique combination of experiences and my personality traits makes me unique. I have an extremely positive mindset; I see good in almost all situations and stay optimistic.”
My desire and hunger to learn and acquire new skills and a ‘can-do’ attitude. And high interpersonal and behavioural skills.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
‘If you want to inspire the world, then inspire yourself.’
Each and every aspect of my life motivates me to strive for my dreams. My family, my friends and my acquaintances motivate me and push me harder to achieve my goals and aspirations.
Whenever I feel low or faced with challenges, I’m the one who motivates myself to get up in my life! We all live for ourselves so why do we expect someone to come into our life and complete us by inspiring and motivating us!”
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My life changed around when my pillars; my husband Pramit, my mother in law Mita, my parents and my friends, graced it.
My family is my biggest strength.
They are my safe spot and anchor.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
(1) Being mindful
(2) Always being resourceful
(3) Being flexible and adaptable
(4) Active Listening
Apart from the above skills, the things that helped me grow faster were the amazing people I was and I’m surrounded with.
Also, the ability to meet challenges and overcome them, getting a sense of achievement and growing self-confidence.
Could you please share with us your honorary Roles and Responsibilities?
Each of us has to contribute back to society. My journey has therefore been towards a cause – A cause that I believe has the capacity to change society in small ways leading to a better, more aware and brighter future.’.
~ National Vice President (WICCI) – Lifestyle and Fitness Council
~ Ahmedabad Chair – G100 – Mentoring and Motivation
~ Gujarat Vice President – National Human Rights Organization
~ National Vice President – All India Council of Human Rights, Liberties, Social Justice (Women Empowerment and Health)
~ Covid Helpline Volunteer –Wellbeing Volunteers United / Poddar Foundation
Give us some details about your ongoing projects.
Some of my projects include ‘Advocating Empathy’ and ‘Being Saksham’.
Advocating Empathy – through online webinars, workshops, talks and articles spreading the awareness for the need to include emotional intelligence specially Empathy as a mainstream subject in early childhood education.
Being Saksham: Workshop to spread the importance of Psychological self-defence (young girls and boys) and financial self-defence (awareness about financial literacy)
Few of my Book Projects:
The world of Digital – Digital Heroin and Teens ( A Research Tale)
Mind Aid – Manual for Healthy & Happy Mind
Decoding Mithya – A Journey of Women over the Generation
You are always positive and motivated, what keeps you going?
The motivation to work hard and practice and stay disciplined comes from the desire to master my skill to keep learning something new, and my genuine enjoyment for my purpose. I try to set boundaries which take practice so that I don’t get bogged down by challenges in life.
I schedule my day for the much needed ME TIME, which is being alone with myself. I always remind myself that – I WILL
> Be happy and love myself first
> Appreciate myself more
> Always speak kindly to me
> Be honest with myself
> Not afraid from a challenge
> And most importantly Invest in MYSELF
What are the business mantras you have embraced as you sought to establish your success story?
Getting the right opportunity and performing to the best of your capability when you get that opportunity. To get that opportunity, I present myself as a brand. I prepare myself to give it my best shot at each opportunity that comes my way.
My Life Mantra: ‘Be your Own Reason to SMILE’
My Business Mantra: ‘If you are positive, you will see Opportunities instead of Obstacles’.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
There are many factors but if you really have the key elements then to me these are the ones:
(a) Determination
(b) Passion
(c) Believing in Self
(d) Resourcefulness
(e) Curiosity
(f) Positive Attitude
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Be a lifelong student and Try to think Beyond Academics:
‘Learn: Unlearn: Relearn’
Last but not least, please share with us your awards and achievements?
Apart from getting recognized and appreciated for the work, making an impact in the industry and in people’s lives makes it satisfying and motivating. Also empowering someone gives me huge motivation.
‘Awards and Achievements are all an applause of Discipline, Determination and being Optimistic’.
Few of the Awards and Achievements:
– Indian Psychological Association (IPA)- Academic Excellence Award 2020
– Super Woman 2020 – Forever Star India Awards
– Research Excellence Award 2020 – Institute of Scholars (INSC)
– Excellence Award Women Researcher – National Educational Brilliance Award (NEBA)
– Award for Contribution in Health Awareness – International Education Award
– Top 50 Influencers – GTown Society Magazine
– Remarkable Women 2021 Award
– Appreciation – Humanitarian Excellence (I Can Foundation)
– Award for contribution in Research and Development in higher education – MIMT
– Best Research Paper Presentation – MIMT
– Bharat Gaurav Puraskar and Certificate of Excellence Award 2021 – KTK Outstanding Achievers and Education Foundation
– Mindful Educator of the Year Award 2021 – Mind On
– IBRF Young Researcher Award-2021 – International Benevolent Research Foundation
– Super Woman 2021 – Motivational Speaker – FSIA
– Top 100 Women Leadership Award – Glantor X 2022
Print Media Achievement:
– “India’s Most Admired Women In Educational Sector – 2022″ – The Knowledge Review Magazine
– Women of Substance Awards 2022 – She Inspire Magazine Special April 2022 Edition
– Famous Social Entrepreneurs 2022 – Hello Womeniya/Jio News
– Dream Builder Award (Page 3 Excellence Award) – Page 3 Lifestyle Magazine March 2022 Issue
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.
