At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Kritika Sehgal for an exclusive interview with us. Kritika is an Entrepreneur, Coach, Influencer, Healer and Change Enabler. Let’s learn more about her incredible journey, her background and her advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Kritika:
Talk us through your background and journey, please;
I have been a merit holder of my state. Along with being good at academics, I was an all-rounder too. After receiving my bachelor’s degree in commerce from Panjab University. I started preparing for competitive exams. But the truth is I didn’t know what I really wanted to be. It was a rat race I was running.
Unexpectedly I faced failure after failure. This started affecting my self-worth. People around me who were once proud of me started questioning my potential and as strange as it may sound, even my existence. The noise outside started growing so loud that I started experiencing depressive thoughts.
It felt like a dead end as I had invested the major career-building years (according to the social conditioning) of my life into something which didn’t bear any fruits. Even though very feeble, but still there was a voice in me which always murmured that is not the end.”
And that my life is not a waste. I feel fortunate enough to have recognized that voice and at a time when I could have lost myself in the noise of the world or would have given myself into addictions and negativity, spirituality anchored me. Though a lot of emotional turmoil had to be dealt with on an everyday basis and I even experienced sleepless nights when I used to cry my eyes out, But there was faith that made me gather up my courage and made me wake up in the morning with a never give up spirit.
Slowly gradually as I started practising meditation and other mindfulness practices I started seeing changes in myself. I won’t say that things happened overnight. It was a journey. And here I would mention how it is true that when things change on the inside everything on the outside also shifts.
It was miraculous how In a few months I got an opportunity to teach in a higher secondary school without even having the apt degree and no experience at all. They straight away gave me the senior most class which was extremely unusual. Things didn’t just stop here. I had always been a writer at heart. And out of the blue, another opportunity knocked at my door.
One fine day during my morning meditation I got a clear intuition to share my journey through writing and help people believe that there is always hope. Just when I was figuring out how to carry this out, that very evening; one of the leading motivational websites offered me their platform to do so.
I always trusted the path the Universe was leading me to. As I started walking, each step started unfolding, of course with my own tests, trials and learnings on the way. After a few months, I once again received another message in my meditation which was of how my purpose was to heal people not only through my words and also through various other practices.
I had no idea what healing was about. Had never heard about it and to my surprise that very afternoon a friend mentioned to me about a healing practice which one of her friends practised. I then got trained in various healing modalities. During my practice, I realized that many clients wanted something more than that.”
They got connected to my way of approaching life’s situations and seek personal guidance to cope up with their life problems. As it was making a huge positive difference in their lives, many of them even requested to learn various ways and techniques of everyday practice.
Some would suggest me to start a youtube channel and post videos addressing different situations of life and some even wanted me to record guided meditations and mentioned that there were more people suffering who needed to hear what I had to say.
It was yet another sign of what the divine wanted me to do. It was an inspiration to reach out to more and more people. I realized that if I had a coach during the challenging part of my journey, things would have been a bit easier.
I felt that we often need a helping hand when engulfed in the vicious cycle of negativity. And then I decided to be that hand for people and got into my journey as a coach. And I still walk the path that the divine chose for me.
I am happy to be this instrument and I love to connect with people and see their lives transform positively. I have recently begun my YouTube journey as well. Though I am still budding there but have the vision to reach out to more and more people.
How did you discover your passion as a ‘Coach’?
Like many of us might have experienced in our lives, I have been in dark places too. There were times when it felt like a dead end. But there was an inner voice which always told me to get up and get going.
Spirituality and realizing the power of inner work came as a breakthrough. It was these situations which made me who I am today. Though the journey was not easy, but I realized that it has made me a much more evolved and a stronger person.”
As my path started unfolding, I decoded the fact that I was only given these situations so that with my experience I can support others too. It took years for me to figure out things and I learnt it the hard way. So, I wanted everyone to benefit from it without having to spend years in the same process.
It is my intent to make things simpler and handhold those who find themselves in similar circumstances. It’s the joy of sharing and making a difference in other people’s life which made me choose to be a coach. It’s something which I love and feels I have been chosen to do.
How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges? What drives you?
The understanding and acceptance of the contrasts of life is my driving force and faith is my fuel. Every time I face a challenge I question myself, “What is it trying to teach me? ”I know that here the Universe gives me an opportunity to expand and there is growth at the end of this puzzle.
I believe that every unpleasant situation has a hidden lesson within it which is essential for our next level of growth. Also, I can’t emphasize enough on the fact that acceptance is the greatest key. The moment you accept what life brings to the table, that is the moment when you are guided by the divine power to combat the challenge.
The way appears as you start walking. So, in the midst of a challenge, always remind yourself that; everything is working out in my favour and for your highest good. The power of this belief cannot be underestimated. It’s a game-changer.
Who do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
My mother, who has been my first spiritual guru, planted the seed of inevitable and unshakable faith in me. She is the one who as a child instilled in me that God is the biggest parent and that we can share things with him like we do with them.
So, in case of any adverse or unmanageable situation, this belief always made me call out to the divine power before seeking help from anyone else. And this has always helped me break through any difficult situation life ever threw at me. I believe that this belief system is my greatest gift.
Also, my husband who is not only a friend to me but also my biggest critic has a huge role to play. Our relationship evolved over a period of time and every discomfort we faced has always challenged me to be a better version of myself.
When I am not at my best he acts like a mirror to me who directly and indirectly makes me realize that this is not who I really am. And that becomes an indication for me of not being in alignment and disconnected from my true self.
What are some of the strategies that you believe have helped you grow as a person?
It’s undoubtedly inner work. And by inner work, I mean becoming more aware of who you really are and striving to become a better version of yourself. It’s not a straight road. But definitely, a path worth walking.
Some of the practices which have helped me evolve as a person are a meditation & mindfulness. There are various other different practices and tools but these two are the most profound ones. Also, I would like to add that the realization that everything is energy and we only need to direct it into the right direction for a better life experience, changed my perception of life. My practice revolves around this concept.
I often share this with people that diseases are nothing but trapped emotions. And once these emotions which are nothing but energy are released; one can be free from such issues. I am not trying to say that it’s an alternative for medical science but its practice can help you heal faster and permanently.”
Similarly, we can deal with all psychological and emotional issues. The practice of Talking to your body on which I have shared a short video as well is another powerful practice which has brought about beautiful results. It always fascinates me of how powerful we are as conscious beings in this human form.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
It has to be faith in yourself and the divine power. I believe that many times we give up on our dreams when we feel a lack of support from the ones around us. We start doubting ourselves when others don’t seem to understand our vision.
But I want to remind each one of you that it’s not random. The ideas and dreams crossing your mind are there for a reason and if you dare to believe in them, the path will appear. The Universe is always guiding you. If you perceive it, you can achieve it.
What advice would you give to our readers?
The answers are always within you. We just need to brighten up our light and dig a little deeper into our own self. We’ll always find a way to turn our pain into power and our challenges into opportunities.
It’s just that ages of social, cultural, and spiritual conditioning has made us forget our true self and that is why we often feel lost and seek everything outside of us. I just act as a catalyst to help people remember what they have forgotten but what still lies dormant within them.
It’s my intent to be an instrument and to contribute to creating a more conscious generation where everyone is aware of how powerful each one of us is.
Last but not least, what about your journey makes it satisfying/exciting?
When I see people experiencing a positive transformation in their lives through my content and personal coaching, it is the most exhilarating feeling. It gives me immense pleasure and contentment to see people benefiting through what I share.
My vision is to reach out to more and more people and be a friend and guide and help them realize that there is always a way to shift every negative situation into a positive one.
It’s all about our mindset. I focus on making the practices simple and easy to understand so that everyone can follow it. And when people reach out to me saying that it was easy for them to apply and made a huge difference in their life, I feel so grateful. It’s like living my purpose every day.
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.
