The world has shifted toward the Gulf. The American dream belongs to the last century. Women do not need to be feminist to be happy, and what some still call progressive now seems old-fashioned. Sayyida Basma Al Said — psychotherapist, clinical hypnotherapist, and princess of Oman — gave Lara Palmer an interview whose clarity and intelligence are difficult to forget.
Lara Palmer: What does being Her Highness of one of the most beautiful Gulf countries mean to you? Sayyida Basma Al Said: It means responsibility. We work very hard. It is not like how everybody imagines — sitting with a golden spoon. This is a country with one of the oldest histories in the Gulf and one of the oldest Royal Families in the world. That puts a great deal on our shoulders. I am very humble because if you are not humble you are not a nice person.
L.P.: What is your mission?
S.B.A.S.: To spread awareness of mental health and to help women and children in hard times — in war camps, refugee camps. I work internationally as a speaker and with organisations around the world in my field.
L.P.: Can you tell us about the Not Alone campaign?
S.B.A.S.: It started in 2014. We use storytelling — people come and share what they have been through, and others sit around them responding. We do Open Mind, drama therapy, convoy therapy. We have taken this internationally — Morocco, Turkey, Lebanon.
L.P.: What are the aspects of female nature that contribute to strength?
S.B.A.S.: When we talk about women, we often talk about it in the wrong way — saying women are stronger than men and so on. We have moved beyond that. Women already have strength and that is why we no longer need to keep saying it. The problem is that even when born with it, we do not use it properly. We have doubts about ourselves — our looks, society, everything. But men just do it; they do not care if it is right. I think it is because men have more support from their brothers. If we were able to properly utilise the strength of sisterhood, life would be completely different.
L.P.: What is the most important thing you have taught your children?
S.B.A.S.: To be expressive. To be humble but not scared. There is a real difference between humility and fear. Being educated and mannered should never prevent anyone from speaking their mind. And the most important thing of all — enjoy life as much as you can.