Born into genius, resigned to mediocrity-the journey of human beings is to return home to our fundamental nature of love, creativity, energy, kindness and a sense of possibility.” Motivational author and leadership expert Robin Sharma’s wordsmithery at the Times Litfest reconnected his listeners to spirituality’s fundamentals.
In conversation with author Ashwin Sanghi, whose books are an amalgam of mythology, spirituality, philosophy and historical writing, Sharma credited his success as a leadership speaker and trainer to his family and upbringing on a diet of Indian philosophy, good food and love.

Sharma went back to the time when a career as a litigation lawyer wasn’t working for him. “I became a lawyer… and I didn’t like the person who was looking back at me”. Building on his own discovery, Sharma said, “Something that happens to a lot of us is the crime of self-betrayal. What is the point in being successful in the world if you’re unsuccessful within yourself?”
His search after hanging up his lawyer’s robe led to the 1999 chartbuster, The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, followed by other bestsellers, The 5 a.m. Club, and, The Everyday Hero Manifesto, apart from a host of other books.

In their 45-minute conversation, Sharma and Sanghi also talked about their experience of writing. “Every time I put down my pen, I’ve been changed,” said Sharma. During the pandemic, he “reworked the manuscript probably 22-23 times… stretched myself. That book changed me because I pushed myself to my jagged edges.”

If Sanghi wondered about the need for rationality that “relegated intuition to the background”, Sharma spoke about instinct being “wiser than intellect”. He explained that while intellect is the “sum total of what the world’s taught us, all geniuses have challenged what the world taught them”.

To Sharma’s reiteration of the benefits of journaling for all, Sanghi spoke about an email id where he writes to himself, calling it his “ideas bank”. Sharma told the audience to “keep your genius notebook”. “An idea uncaptured will be an idea not executed… a dull pencil is always better than the sharpest memory.”

From neuroplasticity to peace of mind, Sharma rooted the conversation in what he called the “four interior empires”. First, the mindset or psychology; second, the heartset which deals with emotionality, a key component. For instance, we are never taught or trained to deal with emotional vacuums. Sharma asked: we speak about peace of mind, what about peace of heart?

The third empire is the healthset simply because physicality is key to a healthy mind and, finally, the soulset, which he explained as the connection to “a higher power, which just means our best self, our conscience, our wisdom”.

The Times Litfest Delhi, presented by Rajnigandha, is being held on February 11 & 12, at Siri Fort Auditorium, August Kranti Marg. Entry is free. Guests to enter venue through gate numbers 2 and 4. Details available at timeslitfest.com