On the surface Hasna'a Mokhtar appeared to have it all. She had studied English Literature at King Saud University in Riyadh and then worked as a teacher, marketer and journalist before landing a job as a special projects manager for a large corporation. But even with a comfortable corporate job she still felt something was missing. She was constantly asking herself why she was feeling so unfulfilled, negative and unhappy. “I searched my past to see whether this stemmed from my childhood, adolescent years or social environment. I really had no idea.” Hasna'a decided that something had to be done. She didn't know it at the time, but she needed to synergize her mind and her soul. “Acknowledging the problem was the first step towards healing but I didn't have the education that would've helped me understand or cope with these feelings. So I started searching for self-improvement courses until I found a mentor who uses Psychosynthesis, a holistic approach to healing which uses psychiatry.” “My mentor gives you simple tools that help you reprogram your subconscious by eliminating negative thoughts and inner criticism and infusing your soul with a more positive energy. It is not magic or rocket science, it's simple affirmations that make you live eternally in peace with yourself,” she says. “Women are the pink glue that holds society together, they are the mothers, the sisters, the wives and the daughters who play important roles in our lives.” But Hasna'a points out that women often neglect themselves because they are constantly taking care of others. Every woman will tell you that she finds happiness in what she does for her family but this is not entirely true. If this was true women wouldn't have emotional outbursts, even at times seemingly for no reason at all, says Hasna'a. The core of the problem, according to Hasna'a, is that everyone searches for ultimate happiness out in the world, when it truly lies within. Studies have shown that self-love is the key to making peace with your life and the people in it. With so many women lacking this, we are left with skyrocketing divorce rates, she argues. Women expect the minute they enter the golden cage of marriage they will be blessed with eternal happiness or get the corner office job that will help buy them the family house they need. They then think this will be the end of all their worries, says Hasna'a. “We women always think or hope that to reach that ultimate destination will bring us eternal happiness. But what happens in reality is that the Hollywood life we feel we have created fades and we end up perplexed and confused. We feel disappointed with our lives and then everything starts to fall apart.” But Hasna'a says she changed her life completely by reprogramming her subconscious with the simple affirmations outlined in Psychosynthesis. She became more aware of her problems and also felt the need to help other women. She decided to open up a center called Synergize. The word Synergize is defined as the interaction of two or more agents or forces which combines into a powerful single force. Synergize is a private center dedicated to women of all ages where they can learn how to unite mind, body and soul through a program taught by handpicked professionals. The center offers Reiki, the Japanese alternative form of healing; yoga, which is a meditative disciplinary practice of the body, mind and soul; and a variety of unique exercise classes which are fun and effective. Every woman will leave completely synergized, she says. Hasna'a says that the center constantly seeks feedback from the women attending the classes so that the program can cater to their individual needs. She says one-in-four women globally suffer from depression for a number of reasons. However, speaking about their problems can help them cope. “Women all over the world suffer from the same kinds of abuse that Arab women have to face. The only difference is that many women in other parts of the world are aware of the problem and have places where they can seek help and guidance. I hope I can provide that place for them at Synergize.” Hasna'a hopes to start support groups where abused women can come and speak about their problems and find solutions. She said women in this country have to face the challenge of not having spaces for themselves. “We are constantly closed in. We leave our homes to ride in our cars to the office, the shops and then back to our homes again. We are constantly surrounded by brick and steel. We are also constantly surrounded by people and never truly alone and in contact with ourselves or nature.” Hasna'a says she is starting small but hopes the center will grow into a second home for women where they can freely express themselves. She says she could have kept the knowledge for herself but realized that she was given a gift that she has to pass on to other women in Jeddah. These women also deserve to live peaceful and fulfilling lives, she adds. __
