I AM:Smriti Irani(Article)

Connecting with God not only when in need, but also during celebrations is what spirituality means to me. If you converse with the Almighty with total truth and sincerity, you can reach Him whenever you want. The conversation should be simple and direct from the heart.

There are times when your faith is tested, but you should take them as a chance to reinforce your belief. Just think that God wants to see if you truly have faith in Him. I always believe in Jo bhi hota hai, achhe ke liye hota hai .

I come from a family deeply rooted in religion. My parents follow rituals thoroughly and because of them i also do the same. We have a pandit who comes home every day and does havan . Recently, I went to Somnath and Dwarka. I didn't go there asking for something. I just wanted to thank God and the satisfaction i got after reaching there cannot be explained. It was a feeling beyond words.

My husband never stops me from doing what i want. He has a great influence on me. From him, I have learnt that forgiveness is the easiest route to God. At times people behave rudely with you and you wonder what could be the reason. You may not be at fault, but are still at the receiving end. That's when my belief in karma strengthens. And I forgive that person. Whenever I feel low, I accept it as part of my journey. When you know that there is something beyond you that has a great control over you, all you can do is accept it and wait for things to change.

I have always had the belief that things will fall in place on their own. That's what I tell my children as well. However, my husband and i do not force any religion upon them. I think God is everybody's decision. We are just letting our children experience their own God.

Live and let live, that's my philosophy in life. My family is everything to me. It is my lucky charm. It's very rare that a woman finds happiness in both personal and professional life. With God's grace, I have found it. My life is very peaceful. There are some ups and downs, but that's natural.

(As told to S Shanthi)