Meet the girl who is spreading happiness

Till about early 2016, Arna Chugani was just another corporate honcho working with a private firm in the city. A chartered accountant by training, she was slogging hard just like many others. But then, she decided to devote her energy to help people in achieving happiness. “After all, isn’t that what we all are striving for. The entire rat race is for that,” she says. So what exactly prompted her to start a venture that aims to bring happiness among people? “I have been through so many ups and downs in my life — be it personal or financial. But the one thing that has always helped me bounce back is the fact that I am an eternally happy person. So I decided that I should try and help people around me become happy souls.” 

The fact that Arna has been taking up motivational speaking sessions along with her corporate job has been helpful in planning out this venture. Although we all chase happiness, it remains an abstract concept. It is relative to each individual. So how does she plan to spread happiness? “Indeed, it is a relative concept. But happiness is one thing that nobody else can give us and it needs to come within. So I help in structuring workshops and sessions to make people understand this. You need to look within for happiness,” she says. 

Arna will soon be hosting a one-day happy workshop for women and girls. She explains, “It will look at three key elements. We will look at working towards a happy body which will look at health and fitness as we believe that unless you are healthy you can’t be happy. Then, we will look at a happy heart which will look into emotions and relationships. This is self-explanatory. Finally, we will focus on happy voice, wherein we will look at how one should have enough confidence to express oneself freely. It is these three elements together that can bring happiness in one’s life.” 

Currently, they address four groups — women, students, corporates and teachers. We ask her why not men? She laughs and says, “Of course we will. Men also need to work on their happiness. We are working towards creating programmes for them as well.”