Pamela Puja Kirpalani, a globally seasoned Trainer & Coach runs the highly acclaimed Inner High Living in Singapore, an NLP Consulting & Coaching Practice. She spends her time training world-class companies and private groups in scientific Persuasion & Non-Verbal Communication workshops, coaching clients using Neuro Linguistic Programming techniques, and writing for various global publications.
The crux of her writing lies in her ability to relate heart-to-heart with her audience while integrating the latest social and neuroscience research. She is a gritty optimist with perfectionist tendencies, and a mother of two inspiring children. Her work has been featured on Elephant Journal, BBC World, Forbes India, Deccan Herald, and The Economic Times amongst others. Her latest book, Whole: 11 Universal Truths For An Inspired Life, published by Leadstart publishing.
TBE: Tell us about your book, can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: This book really delves deep into man’s subconscious mind- playing on key aspects of what makes our mind tick and how our bodies react to our thoughts. It uncovers the 11 Virtues a human needs to cultivate and nurture in order to live a balanced and wholesome life, independent of the outside world.
TBE: Why did you choose to write on this subject? What is the key theme and/or message in the book?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: I chose to write on this subject because there is a huge gap in the field of understanding ‘true inward’ happiness. I wanted the readers to have not just spiritual and holistic knowledge of what constitutes a wholesome life, but also practical and easy exercises to practice on a daily basis.
TBE: You’ve been researching, coaching and consulting about habits and happiness for years. What are some of the habits or activities that consistently make you happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: The most poignant habits that have defined my life in recent years is my practice of a consistent ‘mind’, ‘body’ and ‘wellness’ routine. Not a day goes by where I do not immerse myself in spiritual knowledge, physical movement and quiet meditation time.
TBE: Your book, Whole: 11 Universal Truths For An Inspired Life, suggests many ideas and strategies for creating a more serene, orderly environment. Which are you seeing readers finding the most benefit from and raving about?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: So many readers have said the words have given a peak into their ‘soul’ and some have expressed that the book has literally translated their thoughts into text. The feedback on the exercises and summary section has been very positive- people like to have practical and easy practices to put into place- not just spiritual fluff.
TBE: When did you decide to turn your personal project and experiences into a self-help/inspiration book for others?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: From the age of 14, I have been consistently tearing out pages from spiritual magazines, highlighting and earmarking books, and more recently collating content from the most fascinating psychological journals. Then in my late twenties, I started writing for blogs and online publications in the Wellness space. It was only natural in my late thirties I put this knowledge all down onto paper and collate all of what I felt was most valuable into one readable format. The turn-around really happened when my 11 year old daughter (at the time) said to me ‘You are wasting your talent and knowledge- you need to write a book mama!’. That was my epiphany moment.
TBE: What does happiness look like to you?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: Happiness to me is having a deep sense of ‘inner peace’, where I am operating from a place not of fear- but of inspiration and love for everything I do. Even the smallest actions- calling up a bank to sending an email to walking my dog- is inculcated with a sense of inward peace and joy. I can feel it in my bones when I am really ‘happy’ and not dependent on external circumstances to feel a sense of ‘inward peace’.
TBE: How do you keep your life in order when so much is being thrown at you?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: I’m going to be honest – I fall prey to overwhelm quite a bit! Being quite Type A in nature, I need to have answers straight away, control on most situations, and am a real perfectionist. Hence, when I am facing a lot of pressure at one time- ‘Whole’ reminds me of the lessons I have written from a deep place of understanding. A few important presuppositions stand out for me everyday which help with this overwhelm – ‘progress, not perfection’, ‘how important is it?’ ‘keep things simple’, and ‘I do not need to know all the answers right now’. These reminders keep me in good stead and balanced in my thinking and actions.
TBE: What books and writers have had the biggest influence on your thinking and how you live your life?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: Wayne Dyer, Osho, Eckhart Tolle and Pierro Ferruci have all been a huge influence to my life. They have in a unique way taught me the combination of how to hold presence of mind, tap into the ‘soul state’, the importance of ‘kindness’, and how to ‘really’ have compassion for others.
TBE: What do you hope your readers take away from this book? What final pearls of happiness wisdom do you have to share with your readers?
Pamela Puja Kirpalani: ‘Whole’ is especially directed towards people who experience overwhelm, are constantly anxious, have a lack of direction, suffering from relationship issues and a general lack of direction. I truly hope that the content sparks an inward conscious light into the minds of the readers, all the same- providing them with practical and easy to understand tools to integrate into their daily lives. My final pearl of happiness is this: ‘It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light’ (Buddha).
