Last year I had the honor of speaking with Nilima Bhat about her new book, workshop and lecture series Shakti Leadership : Embracing Feminine and Masculine Power in Business. Nilima is a world renowned author, speaker, facilitator and visionary and may be one of the most insightful, bright, and balanced souls I have ever met. The principles of Shakti leadership are applicable and can be integrated not only to big businesses but to any system or organization. I think we all are aware that inequality, sexual misconduct, and the abuse of power and control to mistreat others exists and most know it is wrong.

Nilima believes we should have “how to” books to get us through life’s most challenging times -so she writes them! There actually is a formula within us all to restore male and feminine balance. This book is just one of the products of her evolution through her life’s journey. We also discuss her fascinating and colorful life that led to this point and this endeavor. Besides being one of the most remarkable people I have met as a human being, she is a highly respected business woman and leader. I hope you read all the show notes to link to her projects, participation opportunities and experiences – impressive is an understatement!

Since this interview there has been a HUGE shift, rise and movement of voices powerfully and courageously saying enough! We have had enough of this unbalance of power, enough imbalance in the work place, enough inequality, enough abuse of power and enough sexual misconduct. The principles of Shakti leadership do not bash males – they are recipes for both males and females to restore balance and peace. The outcome would be holding the value of a free and fulfilled world and power for all.

I asked Nilima a few days ago about her thoughts re: the big shifts and movements this year. I also asked specifically about the #meetoo, #enoughisenough and #nomore movements. Below are her thoughts in response in her own words:

The #Metoo movement is a direct outcome of the rising tide of Shakti that we write about in the book. Women are waking up, growing up and showing up after centuries of not knowing their power.

It is also a time now to end the battle of the sexes and hospice the Patriarchy. To become fully Human.  And to #RiseInLoveTogether. As Whole Man and Whole Woman.

The only way to come into our full power and deal with the challenges at hand, is to become psychologically whole. ie, develop and express our mature feminine as well as our mature masculine values and behaviors, consciously.

We can do this best when we practice Presence; that state of equanimity where we reclaim our true and unlimited inner power or Shakti; and are able to lead the context instead of becoming a victim of it.

It is two years since Shakti Leadership was launched and it feels as if its REAL value and application is now. It may well have heralded this time of reckoning and for which we since launched a campaign called #Let’sRiseInLoveTogether, aimed at restoring Gender Relations. Shakti Leadership is a call to both men and women to come into their wholeness and hold the Sky up together.

See below the links on what I have been busy with this year:

2018 Highlights with Raj Sisodia and myself:

22-30 Jun 2018 Himalayan Shakti Tour

Oct 2018-Jun 2019 Shakti Fellowship Program; Scholarship available – Apply by 31 May
Registration details on the links

Nilima Bhat
Author | Speaker | Facilitator | Coach
Thought Leader on Conscious Leadership,
Diversity & Inclusion, Integral Health
Showreel

http://www.mycancerisme.com

How and why Grey Matters Now?

The birth and journey to Grey Matters Now.  This is the story of the birth of Grey Matters Now and the journey that shaped who I am today and my evolving life purpose and mission.

About Katy:

Katy Bray is the Owner and Founder of Lead With The Lights On. I met Katy at a certification class I was attending.  She was a speaker and I was immediately drawn to her energy and her work. I felt like she was speaking just to me – ha!  I looked her up, we connected, and she became my endeavor birth doula. She is a genius and believes integrating the various aspects of leadership such as self, team, and higher purpose is key to the success of our emerging leaders. She is also an amazing, intuitive and genuinely kind human!  She and her husband and business partner Zebulon have been above and beyond comprehensively supportive and resourceful both professionally and personally.

About Me – a two part episode

I am a Social Worker by title that’s been working in social services at some capacity for almost 30 years. Over those 30 years I have worked in a variety of diverse fields and demographics. I have had the honor of working with people at both ends of life’s spectrum from reproductive health, to ropes courses, to hospice and so much in between.

It is my personal journey as much as my professional one that has shaped who I am and my life’s mission.

In this episode, I share my personal story. I open up and let myself be completely vulnerable.  Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal as I have told my story over and over too many times to count in the last 40 years.  In my mind, this was going to be the most simple and natural episode to record as my intention was to introduce an amazing woman, Katy Bray, who helped me synergize my ideas into one living endeavor and tell my personal story that led me to the place I am in now. Piece of cake right?  Not exactly…

This specific project or episode, became this unique and unconventional experience, as do most things in my life.  I have to say though, this passage I went through was unexpected and caught me completely off guard and unsure about how to process it at first. It sent me down some unfamiliar winding uncharted roads I had to figure out how to navigate. It took some exploring as it turned into visceral surfacing of emotions and then I actually had memories come back to me that have NEVER surfaced before. So – in the spirit of walking the walk and being way out of my comfort zone with an intention of sharing to universalize this experience, I processed these feelings live on this podcast.  

I had a big lesson in overcoming fear – don’t let the fear of your past keep you from moving forward. This was not easy for me – as a matter of fact, it has taken me forever to create this episode (3 separate recordings!!!). My hopes are that me sharing may help someone else go to that place of processing and healing. I certainly did not expect this experience to turn into Ms. Anne’s wild ride but it did and I buckled up and rode it.  Moving forward I hope that this takes you in the direction that best serves you.. fasten your seat belts, let’s go!

Resources

To find grief support contact any hospice in your area. Resources can be found through:

Nhpco.org

Not just for the immediately suicidal, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Is a national network of local crisis centers that provide free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Suicidepreventionlifeline.org

To find out more about Katy Bray and Zebulon Severson and their conscious based leadership program

http://www.leadwiththelightson.com

Do you ever wonder why cat videos are so popular? What is it about animals that makes us feel so good? There’s a bond between animals and humans that is so powerful without even speaking a word.

It was an honor to have Robin Cohen, the director of the Pet Encounter Therapy program at the Helen Woodward Animal Center as our guest to explore and learn more about the unique and powerful human /animal relationship.

This organization has always been a trailblazer; evolving with the times and creating new programs as quickly as the world needs new resources!

Did you think that Helen Woodward Animal Center was just an animal rescue shelter? In this podcast, learn why they’re so much more! A nationally recognized center that provides a variety of services that benefit the community through educational and therapeutic programs for people and humane care and adoption for animals.

I encourage you to link to the HWAC website below and learn more about their impressive and comprehensive services…

The Mission Of The Helen Woodward Animal Center:

Helen Woodward Animal Center’s passionate belief that animals help people and people help animals through trust, unconditional love, and respect creates a legacy of caring. Sharing this philosophy with others, the Center inspires and teaches, locally and globally, the importance of the animal-human bond.

https://animalcenter.org/