Interview With Preeti Pathak, author of Ignite Your Inner Power: The Art of Mindful Living

I would urge the readers to first love and respect themselves before seeking for validation from others; a common phenomenon that we all do.

on Apr 05, 2023

Interview With Preeti Pathak, author of Ignite Your Inner Power: The Art of Mindful Living

After working as a marketing professional in the corporate industry for 12 years, Preeti shifted from a 9am-9pm job to give wings to her passion for writing and help people through her work. Preeti established Empyreal in 2017 with a vision to share with people insights on the art of mindful living for a healthy body, mind and soul through wellness workshops and personal sessions. A certified wellness coach accredited by ICF approved standards and NLP by Dr. Richard Bandler, Preeti is also a certified Yoga and Meditation practitioner and an Advanced Angel Therapy practitioner. - यह पाठ इस शीर्षक के अनुपलब्ध प्रिंट या संस्करण को संदर्भित करता है. She is a renowned author of the trilogy on mindfulness of emotions. Her books 25 Essentials to Happy Living, Enrich Life and Ignite Your Inner Power: The art of mindful living are available in English & Marathi online and in bookstores.

Frontlist: Can you tell us briefly about your inspiration behind writing Ignite Your Inner Power: The Art of Mindful Living?

Preeti: Ignite Your Inner Power: The art of mindful living, is conceptualised on a mindfulness model referred to as Preeti’s 4A Mindfulness Model. The 4A’s are be aware, accept, act and ameliorate. With Ignite Your Inner Power: The art of mindful living as the final book, the series on mindfulness of emotions has been written to bring forward the power of emotions in influencing and dominating our well-being in all areas of life. Inspired for self -discovery through mindfulness of emotions, the books take every reader on a journey to decode this simple science of life that is seemingly felt complicated.

Frontlist: What is the most significant obstacle people face in becoming aware of their emotions?

Preeti: We are a basket of emotions. Sometimes influenced with the positive and at times we see the worst of our emotions as anger, constantly judging or even being critical about everything and everyone in our lives. Livid comments or judgmental remarks are usually an outburst of narrow and self-limiting attitude. What comes naturally is pointing onto others not realising that in this action three fingers point towards me. A gap in self- acceptance with a myriad of negative emotions and attitudes, a core part of our personality, comes from denial at times ignorance and disrespect for own emotional health. Being overly sensitive or extremely touchy over matters, is a block to peoples’ awareness of their own emotional fluctuations.

Frontlist: The book includes case studies from a range of individuals in various professions. Can you discuss the process of selecting and including these stories and how they add to the book's overall message?

Preeti: We live on the edge in this era of duality swinging on the positives and negatives emotions felt. Everyone is fighting his battle to reach the finish line. In this drive and to accomplish own desire, curt arrogant behaviour has become the fulcrum in professional and personal relations for many. Everyone wants to grab the cheese cake and savour their big bite with a cherry on top all by himself. Love and compassion or connection with one’s values are gradually disseminating. In this truth, to convey a message of simple modest living for prosperity in every arena of life, I resorted to real life stories that the readers could resonate with. From an eye opening story on Ego by Venkatesh Srinivasan of R W Promotions Pvt Ltd to Rishi Vohra’s heart-warming story of pure unconditional Love, every case study organically highlights the principles’ of Preeti’s 4A mindfulness Model of the book. Each one of us encounters and is faux paused through an outburst of anger or diplomacy navigated by our ego or even by an act of compassion from a stranger. We miss the subtle nuances of emotions and related attitudes only to be trapped in triggers to react negatively. Real life stories have not only proved to be an inspiring read for all but they have also added richness to support every emotion, attitude and behaviour that Ignite Your Inner Power: The art of mindful living has touched upon. Ignite Your Inner Power is a collection of 29 real life stories on different human emotions and attitudes based on the principles of Preeti’s 4A Mindfulness Model’s for an enriched life. The first step for an enriched or empowered emotional health is being aware. From awareness comes acceptance for everything including our own self-limiting negative emotions. And it is only when we switch to an acceptance mode from a denial mindset, we are actually realigning our thoughts from negative to a positive state of mind. Only a positive and expansive attitude opens our mind to take action. A determination that sets us to embrace and ameliorate our life. As an Author and Emotions Transformation coach, my goal each time, I write or coach is to simplify the complex with resonating facts.

Frontlist: The book is the final instalment in your trilogy of emotional well-being. Looking back, how has your understanding of emotional well-being evolved throughout writing these books?

Preeti: We all are in a state of learning at all times. It is always work in progress. Age is no bar and time no constraint of gaining knowledge for wisdom. A curious learner, I continue to learn to enrich life.

Frontlist: How does Ignite Your Inner Power: The Art of Mindful Living differ from your previous books, 25 Essentials to Happy Living and Enrich Life, in terms of its message and focus?

Preeti: 25 Essentials to Happy Living is step 1 of Preeti’s 4A Mindfulness Model- creating awareness in the reader's’ mind about the depth and simplicity of our emotions, attitudes and behaviour. Enrich Life is step 2- acceptance of the self . A journey to self-discovery and Ignite Your Inner Power is step 3 – action oriented and goal setting to embrace and sustain and step 4 i.e. ameliorate – enhance and improve your life. While each book is a standalone read in itself, Ignite Your Inner Power is driven by action, it will take you in a deeper journey to enrich life your personal and professional life.

Frontlist: What advice would you give readers just starting their journey toward greater emotional well-being and mindfulness?

Preeti: I would urge the readers to first love and respect themselves before seeking for validation from others; a common phenomenon that we all do. It is only when we love ourselves will others respect, appreciate or not take you for granted. Fear is the biggest hurdle to self- growth. Banish fear with a dollop of confidence and unceasing smile at all times- through ups and downs with faith in the Universe. Every problem has a solution, you just need to find it. Never say never. Erase the word No from the dictionary whether it is related to fitness or any other challenge. Lastly, well-being and mindfulness is possible through a balanced physical, mental and emotional quotient. Reading good books, company of positive people or discipline in fitness regime & in all areas of life are the key for holistic well-being. Create “Me time” to find yourself. A sacred space where you can introspect within to resolve and achieve success.