In 1968, Robin Lee Graham achieved the recognition of being the youngest person to sail solo around the world. In 1965, at the young age of 16, Graham had embarked on his extraordinary mission. His book, “Dove”, published in 1972, described his exhilarating journey, a journey that would forever change the way he saw the world.

As a parent of two children, Graham’s journey got me thinking of how many travelling opportunities I have provided my children to enlighten themselves. Admittedly not many, at least not of the scale and the challenge that Graham had experienced. However, I adore travelling and have always been delighted to show the world to my children. I’ve believed that the learning we encounter while travelling is unparalleled in terms of the opportunities it provides the traveller to evolve and grow.

Travelling provides an individual with a holistic education, fresh perspectives on life, culture and the world we are a part of. The first change that can positively impact us is the awareness that we are a part of a world that is full of wonders. Through this awareness, we can also recognize that we are invariably linked to the world through the responsibility we show to those around us. Whether it is climate change, poverty, violence or any other global issue, an issue that faces people anywhere is an issue that concerns us too. Our existence is not complete unless we awaken to this universal truth.

The second factor that positively affects us as an impact of travelling is learning tolerance. During travel, we come across people with different beliefs, religions, languages, lifestyle and living in other climatic conditions. I still remember my first trip to Japan more than 26 years ago and my exposure to the healthy Japanese diet. Though I was missing vegetarian food options, I was undoubtedly intrigued by the creative and healthy cooking style of preparing meat and fish by the Japanese. During my first trip to Denmark, I was pleasantly surprised to observe that mealtimes are genuinely long and leisurely activities of the day where the company is savoured as much as the food. We had spent more than 3 hours at a restaurant with our Danish hosts! It was an enchanting Hygge experience for me.

Another experience that comes to mind fondly is my trip to Rome last year. The Italians are remarkable for their chivalry and their charm. During a trip to a restaurant, despite the noisy, talkative ambience, I pleasantly observed with just how much gusto and fanfare a waiter attends to a guest and welcomes them warmly for yet another meal. Each guest is celebrated during dinner and after! I’m sure we all have countless stories to narrate from our trips too —some pleasant and some not so satisfying but undoubtedly experiences that taught us valuable lessons.

Another learning we experience through travelling especially alone is getting to know the one person whom many often tend to take for granted – ourselves. There may be experiences that we never knew could be so joyous, like sitting inside a dark, cramped bus for a whole night but getting to catch the morning sun amidst a beautiful valley of flowers and lush greenery. This memorable visual experience was one of the highlights of my college excursion 28 years ago. Looking back, the happiness I experienced as I took in the glory of the dawn and the scene, after sitting in the bus till morning was worth it.

Travelling also can awaken us to the reality that we do not need to have heavy luggage to travel. Reminds me of one of my trips to attend a conference in Europe when I had to clumsily lug my heavy luggage most inconveniently on buses and trains. Determined to move the baggage on my own (sheer stubbornness I guess!), at the end of the journey, I realized with utter exhaustion that carrying a smaller box would have been the most sensible decision to make. Travelling sensibly is wise, trust me. As the legendary Graham had said when he found out after he had travelled around the world for more than three years,

“At sea, I realized just how little a person needs, not just how much”.

THE NANKURUNAISA MENTORING PROGRAM

Empowering You to Create Your Life!

The Origin of Mentoring

The name, 'Mentor,' comes from Greek mythology (Homer's Odyssey). When the King of Ithaca, Odysseus got ready for the Trojan War, he introduced his most trusted friend and guide, Mentor, to his son. He entrusts his friend to support the young prince in his absence, not as a parent but as a guardian, teacher and advisor, who will help the prince face some of the biggest challenges in his life in the twenty years of his Dad's absence.

Since then, the word 'Mentor' has stood for guidance, loyalty and confidentiality.

What makes 'The Nankurunaisa Mentoring Program' one of a kind?

The word, 'Nankurunaisa' is derived from the Japanese language and symbolizes an attitude towards life's journey. It signifies an expression of innate positivity and trust that "Everything will work out in the end". As ancient wisdom, Nankurunaisa can be considered as an affirmation that promotes optimism and conviction in the face of challenges. Most of all, this ideology is profound for its ability to bring about inner energy and tranquillity.

As a Personal Development Trainer, Lifestyle Consultant and Motivational Speaker, I believe that by putting passion, creativity and soul into what we do makes a phenomenal difference in the outcome of our efforts and actions.

What better way to support an individual's quest to make personal and professional improvements and progress than by inculcating in them, an awareness of the the positive approach of Nankurunaisa?

Why should anyone require a mentor?

A mentoring program provides a mentee with the benefit of having a confidant to whom they can ask questions. A mentor can advise, explore options for personal and professional growth and success. The mentee can also enjoy the support of someone with whom they can discuss a problem and expect a patient and meaningful response.

A mentor can promote the depth with which we engage our life and utilize our potential. From developing our personal and professional skills, developing a social network, to identifying abilities that can further enhance our progress, the Mentor can help us focus on what areas need to improve to create a desirable improvement in another area of life. Unfortunately, enjoying a sense of satisfaction in life is not which many are privileged to enjoy despite their excellent health or financial security. Sometimes, thinking of the issues in life and probable challenges in life can create unnecessary stress, anxiety and discontent in life, leading to further distance from purpose and progress in life.

A mentoring program enables a mentee to consider the benefits and opportunities of their life.

Objectives:

The premise of mentoring follows certain mutual expectations and accountability.

A mentor assists the mentee in seeking solutions to face challenges and explore strategies to combat and successfully overcome the roadblocks they face in life.

Techniques relating to NLP, Hypnotherapy, Metaphor Therapy, Counselling and Creativity are incorporated during the sessions to enhance the effectiveness of the mentoring sessions.

Purpose:

The Mentor motivates, inspires and leads by example. The Mentor is one who truly is committed to the mentee's success. With a vision and plan, through effective teamwork, a mentor builds greater confidence and tenacity in the mentee through the mentor-mentee relationship.

The concept of mentoring follows four primary principles –

Confidentiality
Accountability
Respect
Trust
Sensitivity

Approach:

By being a consultant, counselor and of course, a cheerleader, the mentoring program provides an encouraging and supportive platform for the mentee to gain from the interactions and the advice from the Mentor.

The mentoring program follows specific steps and criteria to ensure that the sessions are of maximum effectiveness for the mentee's growth and progress.

Orientation (Before the first session)
First meeting (Introduction of the mentoring program)
Milestone Reviews
Periodical Evaluations

Nankurunaisa Mentoring Program - Incorporating Ubuntu Philosophy & Mentoring Principles

The Nankurunaisa Mentoring Program has an emphasis on the South African Ubuntu Philosophy of Mentoring, that is, we are what we are through the interactions, learning and inspiration we gain from others in society. The classic relationship-centered humanistic philosophy of Ubuntu that hails from Southern Africa promotes respect for community, universal compassion and tradition.

To ensure that the program follows the core values of this philosophy (e.g., respect, awareness and cohesion), importance is laid on the cultural integration (comprehension of the cultural context in the mentor-mentee interaction) in the mentoring process for greater effectiveness to the mentee's personal and professional development and growth. When there is a subtle acknowledgment of cultural roots, and heritage in the understanding of a mentee in a mentoring relationship, the confidence in the mentee to develop and reciprocate the efforts by the Mentor is enhanced.

With an emphasis on the principles of Psychology, Counselling, Creativity, Hypnotherapy and N.L.P, this mentoring program seeks to effectively develop individuals, through their self-potential awareness, confidence, skills in communication, leadership competencies and interpersonal dexterity. Each session furthermore focuses on individual excellence, the personal and professional enhancement of knowledge, wisdom and happier living. During the duration of the sessions, there is also conscious incorporation of the value of positive living and practicing healthy habits to promote wellness as a motivation for mentees to attain their goals and lead fulfilling lives. Each session is customized to suit the unique needs and requirements of the mentee. The sessions involve preparation and research to ensure that every meeting is most ideally productive for the mentee's personal and professional growth and progress.

The Nankurunaisa Mentoring Program seeks to promote a mentee's progress, development through implementation of wellness and lifestyle changes. These changes aim to instill an absolute and confident sense of a transformational approach to attain excellence and happiness in both their personal and professional life.

Testimonials

When personal circumstances propelled me to reach a space of emotional weakness and the only way to get better was through professional guidance to regain my emotional strength and emotional intelligence, I started looking for avenues of self-development and growth from the inside out. This is when I came across the opportunity of the mentorship programme by Seetha Sagaran. Her 'Nankurunaisa Mentoring Program', is successfully building my character and personality stronger with every session. I thank Seetha, for being part and instrumental in my growth journey. Seetha is a thorough professional who takes time to understand the needs of her mentee and customizes carefully each upcoming session for the benefit of her mentee. The outcome of consistent sessions is all-round growth with long term impact to empower ourselves to impact our environment positively. I highly recommend this powerful all-round development program to all those who are keen to become the best versions of themselves. Thank you so much for the guidance to look in the right direction!

M.D'Souza

This year I had the opportunity and pleasure to have Seetha as my mentor, while I was getting bored with my monotonous routines made further worrisome and uncertain with the pandemic. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Nankurunaisa Mentoring program, as it was my first experience. I was hoping for a little constructive feedback, and maybe some encouragement.

What I got from Seetha was the whole package. She was very encouraging and also very patient. She suggested several ways to improve in my professional and personal ways of life. She helped me to discover my interests in art and creative skills that made me finally feel I have a life beyond my corporate workplace. She streamlined my daily routines and made a disciplined way of life seem an easy task. I honestly appreciated that she took the time to check on various creative writing courses that would help me pursue my passion for writing. I am grateful to Seetha for her suggestions on various meditations techniques which I follow diligently and is now a part of my daily routine.

Seetha is a great guide and offers tailor-made sessions suiting her mentee's areas of interest as well as those that need attention. I highly recommend her as a mentor!

D.M

I had the pleasure of being part of the Nankurunaisa Mentoring program last year. Having Seetha as my mentor has been a blessing to me. She helped me to look at different areas of my life with a fresh perspective and focus on things that will help in my progress.

I really benefitted from her way of identifying the simple yet critical first steps to be taken for bigger goals, like the changes I could make in my daily routine for effective time management. Not only did she coach and mentor me on the various aspects of professional and personal life, She guided me in thinking through and getting clarity in some of the pressing dilemmas I was facing which helped me to make firm and conscious decisions. Always encouraging, always pushing me to be my best, prodding to widen my horizons, she has made a deep change in the way I look and approach things. Always grateful to her for her time, patience, efforts and for the faith and love with which she guided me.

I highly recommend Nankurunaisa Mentoring Programme. The attention and care given by Seetha for the Mentee’s personal and professional progress is unparalleled. My learnings from her Mentoring sessions continue to give me the strength and confidence to face the challenges that come my way.

Radhika Annamraju

Cherishing the Wanderlust (Part 1)

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Cherishing the Wanderlust (Part 1)