“Healing begins the moment awareness replaces fear; for in knowing ourselves, we rediscover our strength.”
Introduction
There are lives that move with the rhythm of the world, and there are lives that awaken to a deeper rhythm; one that resonates with awareness, compassion, and purpose. Dr. Reenu Sahore belongs to the latter. Her life is not merely a chronology of events. From the vibrant heart of Kanpur, where she was born, to the dynamic city of Dubai where she built her second home, her story traces the arc of transformation: a path from curiosity to consciousness, from intellect to inner knowing.
Reenu was born in 1971, and her early life in India was based on learning, values, and simplicity. She grew up in a close-knit joint family, surrounded by warmth, numerous stories, age-old beliefs and traditions. Her parents’ gentle discipline and her grandparents’ wisdom both had a big impact on her childhood. Her father’s job as a banker meant that she moved around a lot, which helped her learn to be flexible and understanding at a young age. She remembers those days not just as memories, but as times of learning, assimilating and moving on. Every time she moved to a new city, made a new friend, or said goodbye, she learned how things don’t last and how beautiful change can be.
From a young age, Reenu displayed an unusual sensitivity toward human emotions. She often liked being around older people and paying close attention to their stories or, at times, entertaining younger cousins with learned stories. This early curiosity about the human mind and heart found its direction when she chose to study psychology. Her academic journey, however, was never confined to degrees alone. With a strong foundation in psychology and education, she went on to complete her further studies in environmental education at the Institute of Ecology and Environment, Delhi, and later diversified her learning with global certifications in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) from Oxford University, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) from Mind-Bridge Training USA, and Applied Buddhist Psychology and Ethics from Pune, India. Each of these pursuits was not simply a quest for credentials but a search for understanding the deeper layers of human existence.
Her career started in education, which fit with her belief in growth, learning, and helping people reach their full potential. Reenu was a teacher and counsellor at international schools, and her classrooms quickly became places where people could connect rather than learn. She taught her students not only academics but also how to believe in themselves, be aware, and have emotional intelligence. For almost ten years, she taught and counselled young people in British and American schools in Dubai. She was able to do both jobs because she was naturally good at them. Because she had studied psychology, she could go beyond the books and into the minds of her students, helping them deal with their feelings and goals with understanding.
But life had a bigger test in store for her, even though she seemed calm and was progressing at work. She was doing well in her career when she was diagnosed with Leukaemia, which changed everything about her life. She had to go through a lot of treatment for more than two years, moving between hospitals in Dubai and Delhi. For her, those days were more than just fighting a disease; they were a deep conversation between the body, mind, and soul. When the world saw a patient fighting for their life, Reenu took a different path that led her inside. She had moments of giving up at times, but that was not an option. She recalls a few moments that were so intensely painful & deep that they made her aware that the only way to deal with it is by managing the mind, and controlling thoughts and disconnecting them from the body can work. That realization creates a knowing of the unknown, which helped her find peace in pain and strength in weakness.
“The real journey of awareness begins not in silence, but in the questions, we ask as children.”
Phase 1: Roots of Awareness: The Curious Child of Lucknow
The earliest memories of Dr. Reenu Sahore’s life unfold in the gentle rhythm of Lucknow, a city known for its culture, grace, and quiet dignity. It was here, in a home filled with warmth, laughter, and the fragrance of tradition, that Reenu’s consciousness began to bloom. She was not the kind of child who merely observed the world; she absorbed it. Every gesture, every tone, every emotion around her found a place in her young heart. In many ways, her journey toward mindfulness began long before she even knew what the word meant.
Reenu had many people in her life when she was young because she was born into a loving joint family. Her grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins helped her understand what it meant to be part of a community. The family home was a safe place for stories and conversations, where wisdom flowed through even the smallest things. For example, her grandmother would tell her soft-spoken life stories with real people, and her grandfather would tell her mythological and historical ones with wise and gentle advice about life and values. Her parents and grandparents were the most important people in her earlier life. Her father was a disciplined and hard working banker who frequently had to relocate for work, while her mother, Shakun, was an intelligent, creative, and strong woman whose influence would last throughout Reenu’s entire life.
Her mother became the first mirror through which Reenu saw strength wrapped in gentleness. Shakun was not just educated; she was enlightened in her own way, grounded in culture yet open to modern ideas. She pursued her Master’s degree in Sanskrit at a time when higher education for women was still seen as an exception rather than the norm. Reenu grew up watching her mother balance grace with determination and intellect with compassion. It was through her that she learned that education was not merely about acquiring knowledge but about evolving as a person.
Reenu was very aware as a child. She had a unique ability to pick up on the small things, like the emotions behind words, the meaning of silence, and the moods in a room. She recalls sitting with her grandparents and hearing them talk about the past.
“Every journey reshaped her, not by changing who she was, but by revealing how deeply she could belong anywhere.”
Phase 2: The Wanderer’s Lessons : Learning Through Movement
Dr. Reenu Sahore’s life changed early on, but not in a negative way. Instead, it was a rhythm that made her aware of how temporary life is. Her father worked in banking, which meant that they had to move a lot, from city to city. For most kids, this kind of movement might make them feel restless or uncomfortable. But for Reenu, it was a quiet teacher. Every new place she went to taught her something new about people, languages, and ways of life. It was through these constant changes that she began to understand the idea of flow. She would later discuss how life, like the river, must keep moving to stay alive.
In every city, Reenu found herself starting over: new schools, new friends, and new surroundings. Yet instead of resistance, she embraced the challenge with a quiet curiosity. She would observe the nuances of people: their expressions, their habits, and the tone of their conversations. This early attentiveness to the world around her became the foundation of her later work in mindfulness and human psychology. Even as a young girl, she noticed what others often missed: the emotions beneath words and the pauses that carried unspoken meanings.
Her childhood was full of emotional grounding, even though she was always on the move. Having extended family and elders around made her feel like she belonged. She often chose to sit next to them and listen to the stories about faith, culture, and wisdom instead of playing with kids her age. Their stories of being patient, kind, and grateful slowly made their way into her heart. In those quiet times of telling stories, she learned for the first time that peace can be found in motion and stillness can be found even when life is constantly changing.
Every transfer of her father brought a mixture of excitement and uncertainty. Packing boxes, bidding farewell to friends, and settling into unfamiliar towns became a cycle that mirrored the transitions of life itself. She never viewed these moves as interruptions but as opportunities to learn. With each journey, she carried forward memories and lessons, building resilience without even realising it. Those years instilled in her a sense of adaptability that would later help her face far greater transitions: career changes, migration, motherhood, and even the life-altering confrontation with illness.
School life, even though it was often interrupted by transfers, was another source of quiet strength. She learned how to adapt, how to enjoy new places, how to make new friends and how to talk to people from different cultures. Her calm demeanour and thoughtful nature made teachers admire her. She was the student who answered questions and asked the ones that no one else thought of. She wanted to know why people acted the way they did, why their feelings changed so quickly, and why some hearts healed faster than others. That natural curiosity was the first sign that she was a psychologist.
“Learning is not the pursuit of information; it is the art of awakening to oneself through every experience life offers.”
Phase 3: Education and Exploration : The Path of Understanding
Education, for Dr. Reenu Sahore, was never confined to classrooms or textbooks; it was an ongoing dialogue with life itself. From her early academic choices to her later intellectual pursuits across continents, every phase of her learning reflected curiosity, courage, and a deep desire to understand the human mind and its limitless potential. Her educational journey became the blueprint of her consciousness and not just a path to knowledge but a road toward self-awareness and purpose.
Dr. Reenu chose to study Psychology for her degree after finishing school in several cities because her father moved around a lot. At the time, it wasn’t a typical choice for a young woman, especially in a society that often pushed people to choose more stable jobs. But Reenu’s natural interest in how people act and feel led her to this field. She wanted to know why people felt, acted, and changed in different ways, like why some people found peace in chaos while others lost it. Psychology gave her the answers to those questions. It also gave her a way to explain what she had always known: that everyone has hidden worlds inside them.
Her years in university were marked by both dedication and introspection. Dr. Reenu was not the kind of student who studied merely to score high; she studied to understand deeply. She was drawn to the philosophical side of psychology: how thoughts shape emotions and how awareness can transform behaviour. During these years, she also began reading spiritual literature, balancing scientific theories with reflective understanding. Even then, she believed that the mind and soul are not separate; they are two reflections of the same consciousness.
After completing her Bachelor’s in Psychology, Reenu moved to Delhi, a city that would open new avenues in her life. The mid-1990s were years of transition in India; technology was emerging, and education was expanding in new directions.
Note of Thanks
Dr. Reenu Sahore wants to thank everyone who has helped her become more aware and find her purpose. Her husband, Vineet, for being there as a backbone. She is deeply grateful to him for providing her with the strength to overcome the most challenging moments in her life. His faith in her abilities was like a steady wind that lifted her up. She thanks her son Malhaar for being her biggest inspiration, a mirror of her values. His friendship and wisdom have helped her stay grounded in compassion and growth. Her father, RK Bajpai, for extending unconditional love and care. He made her feel special by paying attention to her ramblings. These moments weren’t just fun; they were her first lessons in understanding and seeing the world through his curious and inventive eyes.
Her late mother, Shakun, will always be in her heart. Her wisdom, grace, and strength continue to guide her spirit. Her mother’s mark is on every kind thought and action. Dr. Reenu also thanks her grandparents, who were kind to her and shared their wisdom that made her curious and empathetic as a child, which helped shape her mind. Sometimes, the most meaningful aspect is not in grand gestures but simply being there for each other, whether in a moment of need or just sitting comfortably together sipping a cup of coffee.
Her brother, Amit, with whom she found a special and unique bond of mutual respect & friendship, which she always relished more than anything. He is one of the few people who understands her journey. A special mention to Dr. Marilou Seavy, Dr. Nick Sutton, Dr. Maha Vanam Saraswati, Yashwant Saran, her meditation gurus, Shri M, her spiritual Guru and all the cousins, siblings and friends who supported her unconditionally & extended their help at different times of life when it was needed the most.
She thanks her mentors, coworkers, and every student and client who put their faith in her to help them heal and learn more about themselves. Every time she meets someone, she learns more about people, grace, and gratitude. She bows in love and awareness to everyone who was kind to her.
Thank You
Dr. Reenu Sahore