Connect with your inner WOMAN

Tomorrow is the auspicious Shivaratri. Shiva is seen differently by different devotees. Personally what gave me joy was, when I first saw the form of the Ardhanarishvara. It spoke to me at different levels as I grew up and I loved how beautifully at a deep level, the Prakriti & Purusha is represented.

Ardhanarishvara is half-male and half-female.This does not mean Shiva and Shakti are incomplete individually. This clearly indicates that they complete each other and complement each other's strengths when combined. There are many stories around it and each one justifies the concept. This picture from https://www.britannica.com/ is self explanatory.

At the core however, Ardhanarishwar signifies that “totality lies beyond duality”. They are equal, and both are the important for creation. They are the dual energies that each of us carries. Shakti means power in Sanskrit and also a name for the Devi or the Divine Feminine . Without Shakti nothing can be accomplished.

Loved it when I once asked Radhika Gupta in a webinar how is it after a certain level every leader uses similar vocabulary, she beautifully said, "Leadership at the senior level is gender agnostic. You use both the male and feminine energies to be effective."

Dedicating this newsletter on the eve of Woman's day, to look at WOMAN as an acronym especially for leaders beyond Gender!

Warmth: The attitude that everyone of us needs to build a relationship. When the leader is warm, s/he connects at a deeper level with the team. Trust is naturally created. we feel more comfortable to be ourselves with such leaders. The Dalai Lama says it powerfully, "Even more important than the warmth and affection we receive, is the warmth and affection we give. It is by giving warmth and affection, by having a genuine sense of concern for others, in other words through compassion, that we gainteh conditions for genuine happiness. More important than being loved, therefore , is to love."

Objective: When a leader looks at any challenge objectively, the solutions are easy to choose. Many a times in life especially with relationships, we give in to emotions. Solutions are easier to achieve if we take a neutral stand. Difficult sometimes but not impossible to be. Christianne Amanpour was spot on when she said, "There are some situations one simply cannot be neutral about, because when you are neutral you are an accomplice. Objectivity doesn't mean treating all sides equally. It means giving each side a hearing."

Metamorphosis: Every moment in life is helping us evolve. It is so important to be flexible. This flexibility is what can lead to growth. Growth represents evolution. As a leader this is important. Unless you are living to let go of the old thought processes to understand the point of view of those before you, you can never make an impact. Letting go of what you were to evolve is where the shift happens. In this willingness to metamorphosis lies your power. Ralph Waldo Emerson sums it powerfully,"Everything teaches transition, transference, metamorphosis: therein is human power, in transference, not in creation; & therein is human destiny, not in longevity but in removal. We dive & reappear in new places."

Abundance: Mindsets sometimes take you higher. Abundance is a mindset. To be operating from abundance you need to let go of fear. The willingness to move forward positively, results in the outcome that may or may not be as per plan. It does not matter anyway. The mindset of gratitude is one that takes you higher. Anthony Robbins' quote explains it in a simple way, "When you are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears.

Now: Many a time decisions are crucial and they need to be taken in the spur of the moment. Many a time there are fleeting happy moments of joy. Many a time there are reasons to celebrate a victory. However what is important is not to let go of these moments but to make sure that you capture them and cherish them. After all it's only the NOW we have, the rest is an unchangeable past or an unknown future. This anonymous quote sums up the Power of NOW, "Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have. Make the NOW the primary focus of your life."

Love how this 9 year old author has tackled gender inequality in her way. Watch this inspirational author of three books who gives away the money from sales to meaningful causes.

Watch this 9 year old to know how each of us CAN make a difference.

What are the thought that you have as you read this? Would love to know.

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It's the 141st episode and the 4th in Season 3 of the Human library audio podcast "U n' I with Rashmi Shetty" . It's a Woman's Day Special.

An Indian film musician, session artist, well recognised stage artist, Flautist, Producer and Music conductor Ashwini Koushik is my guest for this Woman’s Day. ?She always is the lone woman instrumentalist in an invariably male dominated orchestra in many of the the shows that I anchor. Admire how? she stands on stage as a picture of elegance, confidence and control.?

Listing out some of? her accomplishments.?

● Recorded for over 180 film tracks and background scores in Kannada, Tamil and Telugu

● 3000 + live shows as a flautist with almost all the leading artists from the South Indian cinema industry

● Lead flautist in Zee Tamil Sa Re Ga Ma Pa; Sun TV’s Sun Singer; ETV Kannada’s Edhe Thumbi Haduvenu; Star Jalsa on Star Bangla; Udaya Super Singer on Udaya TV; Haadu Karnataka on Colours Kannada

● Consolidated views of over 50 million on YouTube

Ashwini Koushik’s debut orchestral stage production titled Ilaiyaraaja - An Insight in 2019 was a sold out event and went viral on YouTube garnering more views than the original tracks. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja invited Ashwini Koushik to record in his new studio for his projects after watching her perform.... Listen to her story.

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SELFI is a newsletter where I share my reflections on life. Moments where some simple elements stayed on to create a SELFI moment! Moments that force the #voiceinme to express. Do subscribe if you like what you read and do share it with anyone you think will benefit!

Do contact me if you want to fall in love with your VOICE and vocal presence through one-on-one coaching or if you are looking to facilitate customized leadership programs for your team.

For details do visit https://coachrashmishetty.com/