If motivational speaking was a subject then Mihir Shah would definitely get full marks for it. For someone who never believes in the ordinary, breaking out of the comfort zone would aptly be the theme for his ‘extraordinary’ life. From preachy ‘babas’ to the typical Indian ‘log kya kehenge’ syndrome, Mihir gives a crystal clear explanation as to what Indians really need to do to motivate themselves to success. NBC’s Group Editor Vaidehi Taman has a quick chat with Mihir who aims to spread laughter and happiness through his workshops and seminars.
What would you describe yourself in two lines?
Just a normal man with a vision and mission to contribute in people’s life with an unending thirst to learn, explore, love and share. I pretty much try to follow my heart and work hard to materialize them.
Tell me how your workshop brings happiness joy and celebrations?
Any new learning is fun. I don’t believe in making people sit and listen to me. It’s the job of all the Baba’s. My workshops are such because I make sure to
get involved with the participants, their worries and possibly solve them and see them enjoying themselves. In the end, we all want to remain happy.
I believe any new learning, new experience in life gives us a sense of joy and celebration. The very reason behind a child’s happiness is because it always lives in that state. Through my trainings people get access to new learning, get an unforgettable experience as I conduct workshops in theatrical and interactive ways and achieve new dimensions of their personality and lives.
What has motivated you to conduct such seminars that are being held nowadays? How is your session different from others?
During my teenage years, I got an opportunity to attend a few workshops that transformed me in many ways. I could see a new ME. That itself was reason enough as I have always wanted to share what I have with people around me. The more I started conducting trainings, the more joy and self-satisfaction I experienced.
I also realized that I have a natural gift of connecting with people and creating sessions, activities through which I can make them realize many facets of their personality and power. I feel at peace when I am on stage, leading trainings and this is what I will keep doing till my last breath. I believe my seminars are my expressions to the world. They are different in every way as I conduct training according to the participants.
What is your main aim behind conducting these seminars?
My main aim is to inspire, empower, motivate and transform lives through these seminars. To give the needed boost, strength or courage or just an ear to listen and be the person they can rely on. Everybody needs it but few manage to have it.
In the era of social networking do you think expression or voice is really an issue?
Expression or voice is an attribute of personality. By giving a variety of platforms to communicate or express doesn’t solve the core issue. I still see an increase in communication and generation gap as well as lot of people with suppressed emotions and eventually lead to depression. We need to train people to express themselves and live life to the fullest. To be who they are and remove the fear of “log kya kahenge”. Infact with the rise of social networking sites I feel increase of such trainings should happen with equal speed.
What is key to become magnet or center of attraction in the crowd?
I believe the master key is to be “yourself “. I believe each and every person in this world is unique. When a child is born, every child is a natural magnet and a crowd puller. But as we grow, because of many factors we lose that power and forget our “own self” and are lost forever in the crowd. Through my training’s, my only effort is to bring that unique self back in the game. Just be the way you are.
These days people have forgotten to enjoy humour and they hardly laugh? How do I look at it?
Hahahah.. Oh really! You should not only look at them. You should say… go and do workshops that help them to stay focused and happy. I look at it as an “alarming situation” as we are becoming monotonous machines and our machines are becoming more creative and expressive. Hence we need to learn the art of expression and hasya ras or laughter is the biggest medicine.
Why laughter is important?
Laughter or Hasya Ras is one of the most important rasa in today’s life. As the saying goes “laughter is the best medicine “. It indeed is as it helps in circulating blood, its a natural way of our body doing breathing exercise (pranayama ). It makes you feel light, happy and is a natural de-stresser. A person who is happy, laughing frequently will always be more positive, more healthy and easy going with life. As quoted by the amazing Charlie Chaplin – “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” It summarizes everything.
How do you look at growing laughter programmes and stand-up comedians?
They are amazing. I enjoy them. It’s a great opportunity for people who have the ability, talent and goal of making people happy through their jokes, gags and act.
Do you believe there is lots of intolerance among people these days?
I believe people in general are tolerant. They were always and they always will be.
How do you motivate people?
I believe when we get in touch with our inner (real) self, we are motivated. We humans are naturally motivated beings. I just take people in that zone and they become self-motivated once they get access to their inner self. And to know how I do that, you will have to do the workshop.
You call yourself an international motivational “Guru”? Can you elaborate more about this?
I would not like myself to be called as Guru. It’s a huge responsibility. I believe I am more of a friend, a guide and a motivator. I have led training programs across India, Thailand and Kenya. I have trained more than 50,000 people in last 11 years.
What is your own biggest weakness and how much successful are you?
I believe my biggest weakness is my fear of living an ordinary life. And I do my best everyday to defeat this fear and to live life in its fullest way.
Could you become superstar like personality? I mean how much an average person of this country knows about you?
Why not? We all have “Superstar” in us. I believe slowly and gradually more and more people would be knowing about my trainings and my cause. I am training people since the age of 18, and I do dream to reach towards each and every human being on this planet. But I believe it’s a big challenge and responsibility and hence I am moving towards my dream in a slow and concrete way. I believe to create a huge structure we need its base to be the strongest.
Well. Why do we need these seminars?
We need these seminars to stay motivated, inspired and empowered. We need to keep our ‘learning self’ alive. No one can just know everything and shut themselves. It also gives an opportunity to connect with like-minded people. It helps you create and execute new ideas and most importantly helps you smile a lot and worry less. Such seminars give you the change that you want but you can’t get it by yourself.
What is your message to our readers?
To be open to new learning in life, stay happy – joyous and celebrate this event called LIFE and to meet your readers someday in my workshops :-)
