Alchemy of Solutions
Topic: Transforming Problems into Opportunities
Date: 14th September, 2024, 6 – 8PM
Facilitator: Nikhil Babbar
On the second Saturday of every month, young professionals in Dubai keen to explore self-mastery, look forward to mingling at Virtue Cafe for an evening of enlightenment and entertainment. Designed for youth between the ages of 18 to 40, this meetup facilitates an interactive session among participants where they explore and exchange views on how to enhance one’s attitude and responses in various situations in life. All these while enjoying a sip of their favourite coffee or tea.
This month featured Nikhil Babbar, a manager of a leading retail conglomerate who also practices Raja Yoga meditation. He facilitated a session on the topic, “Alchemy of Solutions: Transforming Problems into Opportunities.”
The session, attended by around 18 participants, began with a welcome note and an icebreaker activity where each participant introduced themselves and engaged in an energizing exercise that involved walking, stopping, jumping, or dancing according to the host’s instructions.
Nikhil commenced the formal session by discussing the power of perception and how it allows individuals to recognize that problems can be growth opportunities when viewed with an open mind. He shared the example of Thomas Alva Edison, the famed inventor, who perceived a fire in his factory as a valuable disaster, calmly stating that he would start anew the following day. Similarly, he emphasized that when faced with calamity, one should view it as an opportunity for transformation.
The session also explored the “alchemist’s mindset,” highlighting that every challenge is a raw material for growth. Participants took part in an activity to build the tallest tower using spaghetti sticks and clay dough, divided into three groups that collaborated to tackle the challenge. Each group did their best, and one team emerged victorious, demonstrating that any type of raw material can serve as a foundation for growth. Nikhil also shared a success mantra: spend 80% of your time finding solutions and only 20% analyzing problems, as energy flows where the mind goes.
Nikhil proposed a reframing activity in which participants reflected on a personal problem and considered how to view it from a new perspective. Those who felt comfortable were invited to share their thoughts aloud. Following this, there was a brief break for tea, coffee, and homemade chocolate chip muffins, during which Nikhil explained four steps for reframing perspectives: pause and reflect, ask different questions, shift focus, and take empowered actions. This offered valuable insights into transforming problems into opportunities.
The session concluded with a 15-minute meditation experience facilitated through an audio-visual medium. Participants were guided to visualize themselves seated on a high mountain, watching their thoughts as passing clouds and observing their surroundings in silence. They then formed a circle and loudly repeated the affirmation summarizing the session’s theme: “I am powerful and an embodiment of solutions.”
To learn simple meditation techniques, call: +971 4 3352604 // +971 50 8573981
