Little things that matter

In an era when lives are wired to function around the screen-lit bustle, interpersonal relationships often take a backseat. But on the upside, the realisation has given rise to experts who can help people tackle those issues. Thinking along similar lines is entrepreneur, life coach and NLP trainer Pamela Puja Kirpalani. Currently, she has her sights set on developing the right body language training. In a candid chat, she tells us more.

“As a child, I was a complete introvert. Shy to express my feelings, I would hide from the spotlight and was not at all confident about interacting with people. And then, something marvellous happened when I hit my teens. I had just moved from London to Manila, and was left with no choice but to interact with a new and diverse community of international kids in an American integrated school. This struggle marked the beginning of my voyage into the area of human interpersonal relations. I was suddenly interested in how to connect with others and build a network of strong relationships,” begins Pamela, who’s currently teaching three main programmes which are catered towards professional development centres, educational and government institutions and companies. “One of my favourite parts of this programme is teaching my participants how to ‘stay on top of mind’ through one simple technique. There is a great focus on the importance of team synergy and working closely together.”

Aside from soul cycling and reading non-fiction, Pamela loves spending time glass painting. “My love affair with the art world began as a child, especially when I learned how to paint on glass. As for my daily routine, it revolves around tending to the house and kitchen, being with the kids when they are back from school and then stepping out if I have to run some errands. I am rarely ever at home — there are always things to do! However, on full day-training days, I hit the road at 7.45 am, head to the training centre or the company I am working with and get back by 6 pm,” she says, speaking of her daily routine.

Her biggest takeaway from her career as a holistic wellness entrepreneur is the genuine responses from wide-eyed students. “The other day, an elderly businessman attended my workshop and came to me at the end of the day looking perplexed and elated at the same time. He then exclaimed, “If only I had learnt these tips in my younger years. I had no idea these techniques even existed.” The thing is, a lot of these concepts might seem brand new to us, but the reason the workshop resonates with so many people is because we naturally pick up on these gestures and non-verbal cues on a deeply subconscious level. So, ‘aha’ moments are common throughout the workshop. I am just simply facilitating what everyone already knows and just putting a label on it.”