"Yes, Work – Life Balance Is Real"

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1. Tell us about your background and journey.

A Sikh girl who has always been grounded loved to solve the problems for anyone coming across. Hence, at school, I was popularly known as a Counselor. Starting off early during school through academic learning of Psychology as a subject my interest grew to become a mental health professional which was then given less emphasis but had a huge scope.

To choose to become a mental health professional started off with a dream to become a counselor, coach, and social worker. I learned from people around and never walked the trodden path. I taught kids to learn what solace was to earn early off my school days.

I had more mentors to talk to than friends. I always had zeal to learn and be proactive in my field of work or that which is related. I followed which I found out would help me grow.

Today, I am a profound and published researcher in psychology and management and have learned across theories and techniques through workshops at a time when students really didn’t want to think about it.

This definitely brought me envies and hate as I stood out but it helped me learn new skills and take the idea of being a psychologist to a new edge.

2. What led you to take up this career path?

My career path has been a complex mixture of what I wanted and what the universe did. My prime interest rose while doing a case study which brought about to my notice of the most complex psychotic disorder. Now, this wanted me to know more about it perhaps because I literally by the law of the universe to what it intended me to become left my first goal of becoming an English teacher.

I got into the field of Applied Psychology in my undergraduate. Now, as I ended here specializing in Counseling/Clinical Psychology I Mastered in Clinical Psychology to a realization that to become one you need to be a really strong mind which was my cup of tea and yet denied.

I became a Certified Life Coach specializing in Mindfulness-Based Therapies and continued to counsel students, young adults, and children ever since the time I began doing Masters. Today I am a founder of an organization developed as an initiative for better Mental Health of humans across which primarily focuses on implying practical methods of solving and treating mental health concerns of the clients.

I have been conducting webinars, giving talks, blogging, and taking personal sessions for a while now and have really received good feedbacks from my clients.

3. What are some common myths in society about psychology?

Some of the common myths in society about psychology are – Psychologists read mind which just means that I can tell what you’re thinking. Then, a psychologist will give me medications leading me to sleep whereas we only counsel and offer therapies depending upon the categories and qualification.

There, then comes a thought of Psychologists should be calm because they are a psychologist! But, we are naturally human beings too and we can behave how everyone else does.

Next, Psychology is also seen as an easy subject and hat it has no science. Well, to clean the air Psychology s a science and it really isn’t that easy. You don’t also become a Psychologist doing Bachelors’ only.

4. How can people practice mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a beautiful meditation practice wherein you become pay attention to the present, purposefully and non – judge-mentally. It can be practiced in many ways anytime and anywhere literally. If you’re eating, walking, breathing, reading, singing, listening, or using art forms.

It comes from practice and one may begin by bringing about breathing exercises into practice and focus. More so an individual may become more aware of his/her senses through the practice. To learn to be mindful people can just try to bring about their focus on their present moment intentionally acknowledging any thoughts which may come to mind through the process without paying specific attention and emphasis.

For example, when you prepare your favorite beverage don’t just gulp it rushing to the next task or focusing on something before but go step by step. Watch your beverage carefully and observe it (color, consistency), bring it close and let the smell seep in, now sip a bit and let it stay in your mouth, as you slowly than ever maybe relish the taste of your beverage and sit back the way you feel comfortable taking slowly one sip at a time.

By the end, you may notice a difference. This was one activity you did mindfully to relax.

5. What are your tips for people who want to practice this profession?

For anyone who wants to practice being a psychologist – Be sure about it. The profession demands sincerity, listening skills, non – judgemental attitude. Some of these skills come with time and some are pre-existing.

If you are someone who loves to help people and has an accurate balance of logic and sensible nature compassionate much to take forward the effect of creating a mentally healthy society.

This is not just a profession but an extraordinary way of bringing about more of self – awareness and knowledge depending upon how enthusiastic is an individual to learn and grow.

Mental health professionals are growing together today and we want to de-stigmatize our society about mental health and all budding youth is welcome to this profession as long as you want to be genuine.

6. Is work-life balance a myth or reality according to you?

Work-Life balance is not a concept but an approach to managing your work life and personal life. It is to deal with your cognitions and emotions in a balanced way which seems to be a myth because not everyone can achieve this balance. On the other hand, many of us are able to maintain this balance.

Through my techniques of coaching, we enable the clients to distinguish and create a boundary between work life and personal life letting them live their lives to the possible best. If you are able to recognize what is causing an imbalance you are able to help yourself out of it and now it becomes a reality.

Nevertheless, It is a debatable topic but for me Yes, Work-Life Balance is Real.

7. How according to you can one manage stress?

Being aware of your most powerful stressors, how you react in a given stressful situation, and comparing it to how you should actually be dealing can help manage stress.

Practicing Gratitude, indulging in a fitness regime, maintaining the same routine, having a healthy diet, getting sufficient sunlight, talking out (catharsis) with a wise person or a professional as SOS, Maintaining a Journal of your stresses and no re-reading but deleting it and practicing Mindfulness.

These are not all the possible practices but those which really help manage stress. There are more powerful strategies that we talk about in our webinars and talks. You can even visit The Grace of Mind by Ramneet on Youtube to know more.

- Ramneet Kaur Narula, Psychologist

- Interviewed by Shilpy Sharan