Sonal B Chhibber is a multi-talented stylish diva who is an Indian ex-pat living in Dubai for the past 15 yrs. Sonal B Chhibber is an award-winning Writer, Poetess, Motivational Speaker, Model, Authorpreneur, banker, teacher, and exemplary Fashion Influencer.
Sonal B Chhibber writes about women’s empowerment, parenting, ex-pat life, self-care, beauty, wellness, fashion, relationship, mindfulness, spirituality, and travel. She likes to share her thoughts and experiences to help people. Sonal B Chhibber primarily seeks to inspire and empower all women as she believes women are the cornerstone of family and society.
Here’s the delightful conversation with Sonal B Chhibber on her journey as an award-winning writer-poet, Motivational Speaker, Model, Authorpreneur, and exemplary Fashion Influencer with Icy Tales.
Q) How did you get started as a writer, speaker, and poet? Were you always inclined towards writing, or did you develop this interest over time?
Mrs. Sonal is getting felicitated as #SheWriterAwardWinner.
Sonal B Chhibber: I started my career as a banker. I took a break from my career to balance out my family life. While l loved being at home & spending quality time with my family, a side of me was looking to venture out. That is when I decided to pursue my passion for writing.
Since childhood, writing has been one of the fields I was always interested in; whether in school plays or poem writing competitions in school and college, I always took part in every competition and event.
Taking one step at a time, I started writing and reciting poetry. Though I was an introvert, I initially had the stage fear, but later on, I realized that I should recite my work. I read books by Arundhati Roy, Oprah, Sudha Murthy, and Rupi Kaur, which develop my interest in poetry; I read fiction and nonfictional books.
I am passionate about poetry; gradually, with time, I started to focus on writing articles and blogs and have published my books. My starting point was my interest and passion for poems.
After the career break, when I decided to pursue my writing passion, my work made me win awards in a writing contest by Khaleej Times. My inputs started getting featured in reputed newspapers, magazines, websites, books, radio, TV, and blog portals in UAE, India, UK, USA, South Africa, and many other countries.
This got me much-needed appreciation, acknowledgment, and respect. So, with encouragement from my family, I decided to follow my dreams and #BustAMyth that women who take a career break are less ambitious or committed to their work.
Q) What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your books?
Sonal B Chhibber: Writing comes naturally to me. Writing is a way that helps me to express myself in ways I would not have felt comfortable doing otherwise. “Writing is my passion,” I always say. And words are my means of escape.” Writing entails more than just putting pretty words on a page; it entails sharing a piece of your soul with the rest of the world. I enjoy writing because it allows my mind to travel to any location it desires.
I enjoy writing because it allows me to express myself freely. I believe that if one continues to work hard and produce good content, one will receive recognition and accolades beyond one’s wildest dreams in due time.
I’ve come a long way from being an introverted girl to a confident, independent Authorpreneur & Writing Coach. I’ve surprised myself and many others with my perseverance, resilience, and hard work in writing my books, coaching new writers, and winning awards worldwide.
Q) You manage so many roles in your life. What is your inspiration behind being a life coach, journalist, influencer, and award-winning author?
Sonal B Chhibber – I believe drawing inspiration from your life and spiritual experiences is critical. As an avid traveler, I observe places, people, surroundings, real-life incidents, deep conversations, and divine connections with nature, which aid in forming my opinions and thoughts.
I’ve learned that ‘people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.‘ So the idea is to be inspired, inspire, and uplift others for them to rise and shine. This enables me to create meaningful and relevant content such as inspirational poems, motivational articles, empowering videos, travel and wellness blogs, books, etc.
I interviewed many famous national and international celebrities as the Editor-in-Chief, Content Writer, and Journalist for a famous fashion magazine in Dubai. Today, I am well-known as an award-winning author, journalist, life coach, travel blogger, wellness influencer, motivational speaker, sustainability ambassador, writing coach, and authorpreneur. I believe in the adage: “Never give up on your ambitions. Waiting is difficult, but regretting is even more difficult.”
Q. Any experiences that taught you something you value significantly in your life?
Sonal B Chhibber: Writing helps you learn a lot about yourself. It allows you to delve into the depths of your mind, picking at and testing out emotions you might not have known you had before sitting down to write. So writing has helped me grow as a person, teaching me the virtues of patience, dedication, perseverance, and discipline. Let’s push ourselves to try new things in life, even if we are afraid to do so.
I tell myself over and over that I should do it, even when I am hesitant, because I know that the struggles and challenges of my journey will eventually build my self-confidence and help me grow to great heights. The most important life lesson I’ve learned is never to give up; keep trying, and success will come your way one day.
Q. What difference do you see between the present and previous generations regarding reading?
Sonal B Chhibber: Present generation looks for quick fixes and believes in copy-paste, unlike the previous generation of Authors. I would advise budding writers to be original and write about what they are passionate about. I believe in the words of Benjamin Franklin that we should “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”
We all should keep exploring & experimenting, and one day we will succeed. My success mantra is: “Define success on your terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” So, we should do something new every day, conquer our fears and learn new forms of writing and expressing ourselves. The idea is to be flexible and innovative. It’s good to be a student and have a can-do attitude.
To be a good reader & writer, one must include daily dedicated reading and writing time, exploring different genres of books, improving vocabulary, journaling, etc. The legendary Leonardo da Vinci said: “Learning never exhausts the mind.” So, we should keep learning & keep growing.
Q. Do you think the perception and analytical skills of the younger generation are stunted due to a lack of reading?
Sonal B Chhibber: Yes, I believe so. Furthermore, I believe the pandemic has harmed our lives in many ways; however, we should try to remain positive and active and do our best. Children should follow specific guidelines daily to develop a compelling reading & writing schedule and strategy.
They should keep their books of interest and research materials nearby. They should also begin daily by journaling and setting a word count goal, such as 500 words per day. Furthermore, they should read biographies of inspirational leaders/authors daily, without fail.
Being physically active is also important because the movement can spark new ideas. It could be a scene, a chapter, or a page of quotes to help spark an idea. Reading E-books and listening to motivational podcasts can also be beneficial.
Q. You have written so many books. Writing which book has been your favorite experience and why?
Sonal B Chhibber: Well, I’m an author of three books and a Co-Author of 25+ Anthologies. My first book, ‘Living Life On My Own Terms,’ contains timeless and contemporary poems vital to our search for meaning and purpose, focusing on questions specific to our inner life and quality of existence. I believe some fundamental questions in an individual’s life must be addressed at the right time.
Some Glimpses of the Books written By Sonal B Chhibber
My latest book, “Sonal’s Travel Notebook,” is my favorite as it reinforces the thought that ‘We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.’ I love the idea, “Be a light unto Yourself.” And “I don’t go by the rule book. I lead from the heart, not the head.” My second book, ‘Secrets of Life Hacking,’ combines my articles on love, life, and other contemporary topics. This book is not only packed with tons of helpful advice for living an authentic, stress-free, and magical life, the articles are dreamy and beautiful.
I am pursuing my life goal to inspire and help people travel to spectacular places and create special memories! Travelling has been a lifelong dream; the idea of seeing the world, seeing other cultures, meeting new people, and expressing myself was something that excited me. I have travelled to 13 countries so far, & long to travel even more.
I believe my book will inspire many & make them think differently and help them stir change where needed. All my books are available on Kindle & Amazon. I request all my viewers check out my books and give me their valuable reviews and feedback.
Q. Being a motivational speaker, share your three biggest motivations in life?
Sonal B Chhibber: I have been a big fan of Oprah Winfrey, Sudha Murthy, and Arundhati Roy. I admire their work. As a staunch believer in the ‘women empowering women’ principle, I started my blog to support and empower women worldwide through my writings, motivational videos, and life experiences, as I believe women are the cornerstone of family and society.
I have always loved standing for the right things, no matter what. It’s challenging but achievable! I believe in being yourself and living life the way you want, and achieving success on your terms.
I believe in the mantra: “Living life on your terms,” which means the ability to live a life that is meaningful and fulfilling to you. It means having the time, freedom, and flexibility to pursue the things that matter most to you, whether travel, volunteering, fitness, or other hobbies or interests. It also means enjoying quality time with your family while having a purpose-filled career that provides financial freedom.
Living life on your terms is about having purpose and fulfillment and freedom and flexibility to do what matters most to you. You can make this happen by starting today and taking action! It’s essential to do this because how you feel about your life and work affects you and everyone around you.
“Women Entrepreneurship – The Growth Spectrum”
My motto is to empower and support women globally. Writing, Blogging, Healing & Coaching are my passions. My dream is to leave a meaningful legacy behind. I believe one should contribute to society much more than one takes from it. I want to motivate & encourage women and help those who need to find themselves and pursue their passion in life. That’s my mission in life now!
Q. What have been the building factors behind your passion for poetry?
Sonal B Chhibber: I like to share my thoughts and experiences to help people. I primarily seek to inspire and empower all women. I get inspired by the colour of the ocean, the waves, and the sky.
I love reading books, meeting friends, and playing indoor sports. My favourite song is Reflection by Christina Aguilera because of the message about being yourself and celebrating your accomplishments. My favourite movie of all time is The Secret, with its powerful message about creating your luck.
One of the best things to come out of the difficulty of the pandemic is the incredible opportunity we have to connect with people online from all walks of life and all parts of the world! The online community is a thriving hub of connection and enterprise, especially since the pandemic.
I have met many Superwomen during Emirates Literature Festival & have admired them for years and had the good fortune of crossing paths with them in our vibrant Instagram writing community.
It is inspiring to see the extraordinary unfolding of their career. Motivated by all women writers & poets, I have learned never to stop and never give up. My sheer determination to make my dreams a reality by writing thought-provoking & heart-touching poetry has come from my challenging but rewarding life experiences.
Of the many bad things about the pandemic has been the impact on travel across the world. But the good news is that my new travel book will come to your rescue! This book is perfect for anyone planning a trip, but it is also brilliant for anyone like myself who would love to travel but can’t in the given circumstances.
The idea is to make people travel & transform through my words and evocate unique places I have been to. It’s the essential companion to your travel plans and the perfect companion for armchair travel if you cannot wait for whatever reason.
Let me end by sharing a short poem to inspire & motivate my followers:
“No matter how dark it is now,
Remember the sun will shine,
No matter how hard it is now,
Your victory will surely arise.”
Watch the complete conversation with Sonal B Chhibber on our YouTube channel.
Last Updated on by Sathi
