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The Philosophy, Art & Science Of Living, Loving & Learning |
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In our previous article on Oasis L3 courses, we shared how Character Education is the most critical need for every person in this society. Oasis, through, its specially designed course L3, has been facilitating this since last four years. Be it for realizing potentials of life or be it for implementing idealism in practical life, this education and science is not only essential but also inevitable to create right success in life. While this educational process has helped our participants in different spheres of life, be it Parenting, Interpersonal Relationships, Profession, and so on, Empowerment of women has also been one of the highlights of this four year journey. On the occasion of Women’s Day on March 8, let us hear what the women participants have to share about this:
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According to Priya Allawadi, “The changes which ensued from joining Oasis Workshop were tremendous.- from being a Housewife, to teacher & then a businesswoman now. There were many hurdles in-between but implementing whatever I learnt helped me. The workshop also helped to a greater extent in areas of life like family & social, career & financial, mental & self developmental.”
Mita Shah, a social-entrepreneur, reflects, “As women, it is very natural to develop many conditionings and paradigms about our relationships, attitude, etc. These limit our freedom of expression and choice. L3 course helped each of us to break the barriers and come out of our shell. When I started working for Deaf & Dumb children, I experienced joy which can not be compared with anything else. I understood that by helping others actually I helped myself."
Anuradha Mehta, now an active volunteer of Oasis-Asha health education project for students of municipal schools in Surat, agrees to it, saying, “L3 course helped me to build my confidence and express |
my feelings. It has been a beautiful experience that changed my life to the best. It has given me the basic tools of living a better life like loving yourself first, enjoying every relationship, exploring your potentials and materialising your dreams.” She further adds, “ Apart from this, it has also given me lot of inner strength & guidance for parenting which will help me life long. As a parent, I learnt how to become the Best Friend of my child. Earlier, for every tiny mistake, I used to blame my children. But today, I have an understanding that a Child is never wrong. It is upto the parents to understand them and facilitate their growth.”
When asked, how this workshop helped in interpersonal relationships, Neha Modi, from a well known business house, shares, “As a married couple, we always had a feeling that we love each other. And that we know what is love; rather everybody knows what is love. But after attending this workshop, I and my husband, we both were overwhelmed. We realized we had never known love before!” Understanding love has been a blessing for them, not only as life partners but also as parents.
“I started going out and working. I had never imagined that I could gear up enough confidence to do
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this says, Purna Shah. "Today, after learning music, I have started teaching music to children. I am feeling so confident. My voice (tone), my walking style.. everything is changed..all seem to be reflecting my confidence!”, so adds she gratefully.
Pravina Shah, yet another participant explains further, “Earlier I used to feel that only others are cause of problems- be it problems with my husband, in-laws, children or others. This workshop opened my eyes and I realised that I am the cause of the problems of my life and now I strive to change myself, not others. Before this course, I used to live aimlessly, simply passing my life. This workshop also gave me true understanding about the worth of my life & myself!”, she concludes. Touch wood! The best help being that each of us realize that we, do have choices in life and that real empowerment is the freedom and responsibility to make these choices! God speed to every dream-choice of ours.
[The next Alive will carry the concluding article on this series and will showcase the other spheres of benefits experienced by the participants, the need for such a long course extending to 4 years as well as the vision of this Course. ] |
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Whoever pays is in charge: why I decided to be an executive |
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Can you be independent, if you don’t have economic autonomy? OR Can you achieve self-fulfillment without an activity that constantly stimulates you intellectually?
For me, the answer has always been - Definitely Not. That’s why working in multi-national companies has given me great satisfaction and has allowed me to be independent. Economic independence is indispensable for me. I remember when I started earning my first salary. I was fifteen years old and I had found a job one summer as a secretary. I wasn’t making very much money but I had never had so much money in my life and for the first time, I was able to buy things without having to borrow money or ask anyone’s permission. It gave me a feeling of independence that I have never forgotten. When I began University and I found a part time job developing computer |
programs. I had only just begun driving, and one day I got into an accident. It wasn’t a serious accident; no one was hurt but the car was pretty damaged. When I got home with the car being towed my dad was very angry with me and I remember the satisfaction and tranquility with which I told him, “Don’t worry, I will take care of the cost of repairing the car.” It was so liberating!
We have a saying in Mexico, “whoever pays is the one in charge.” I noticed that once I started earning money, in my house they stopped treating me like a little girl. And then I decided that I would always strive to retain my economic independence, because I wanted to be the one who made the decisions about my own life, and there can be no real independence if you depend economically on someone else.
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The next step was to search for a job that I would enjoy. In my case it was marketing. I love analyzing the target group I order to discover their beliefs, motivations and how I can develop products and brands that will better satisfy their needs and to be successful in business. It’s a constant challenge, markets are dynamic, competition is fierce, consumers change, the economy changes, and also the brands you’re managing change. There is always something new to learn, and that is very stimulating for me. I think there is nothing better than to make a living doing something that you feel passionately about and for which you have talent. There is no better recipe for success, in spite of all the glass ceilings and the barriers that present themselves. One finds the ways and success gives you both self-fulfillment and economic independence. And no one is in charge of your life but you. - Ivonne Monteagudo |
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| Editor's Note |
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In this issue, our theme is Celebrating Womanhood. As International Women's Day approaches on 8th March, we take this opportunity to salute women all over the planet and their struggles. Everything that we do, or choose not to do, defines the course of history. Lets take a conscious choice today and support women movements across the globe in every way we can. We welcome feedbacks and opinions by readers. - Team Alive
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Nari-jivanni Bhet
Nari-jivanni Bhet presents real-life stories of the women struggle from all over the world. It's a valuable experience to read/feel the struggles of present age women.
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