Oct 11, 2019
[13.15] Death of a fellow Marine
[13:58] The war experience in Iraq
[18:40] Find out how Akshay learned to adapt to the war
environment
[19:03] The positivity and power of journaling
[21:56] Introduction to “Fearvana”
[33:18] Akshay’s mentor, and how he fought through PTSD
[43:19] Find out how you can learn more about Fearvana and support
Akshay! Today at the dharmic evolution, we take a ride with former
US marine veteran, author and speaker, Akshay Nanavati.
Early childhood [2:37]
Born in Bombay India, Akshay moved to the USA at a tender age of 13
years, this is after spending his 8 years in India, and 5 in
Singapore.
2 years after joining the US, Akshay adopted a lifestyle of drugs
and alcohol, a choice he says was partly due to his lack of
self-identity and purpose. A life describes as characterized by
depression and sadness. He would cut his own arm and even burn
himself.
Joining the army [8:12]
2 years down the line after spending his ripe teenage years drowned
in drugs and alcohol, and losing 2 of his friends. Akshay’s life
would take a total flip after watching the movie Black Hawk
Down.
This would prove to be the most pivotal moment of his life, the
movie he says, inspired him so much that he went on to read book
after book about the military and life in combat. And just like
that, Akshay found himself cured of his drug-addicted life, a life
he describes as being meaningless and selfish.
Now that he knew what purpose he wanted to serve in life, nothing
was going to stop him at the time, despite the many illnesses that
dragged him down while enlisting, Akshay was focused and determined
to join the military.
School and training [9.40]
Bootcamp training took a toll on Akshay because he wasn’t very
physically fit. But he describes the entire boot camp process as
more of a mental process rather than a physical one. With his mind
focused on what he wanted to achieve, Akshay was able to not only
succeed in the boot camp training but also graduate as an honor
student in the Infantry school.
Growing up with parents who provided everything for him, Akshay
never had to struggle for a thing, but now, for the first time in
his life, struggle and suffering became the order of the day. He
began to experience joy and value in the process. He began to
accept and learn the bliss and comfort associated with
suffering.
[24:15] life after the war
Not quite sure what he wanted to do after the war, Akshay decided
to first finish his undergraduate degree in Texas.
Life after the war was a complete struggle to find meaning and
purpose, to a point he kept volunteering to go back to war.
In the end, Akshay ended up going to journalism school, where he
was bound to meet his wife, get married, and settle down with a
corporate job. But it all felt meaningless and not really what he
was bound to do. Inevitably, he ended up quitting his job.
After the whole school and corporate job experience, Akshay went on
an expedition in the Himalayas, as a way of running away from his
demons and problems.
It was after the expedition that Akshay came back to America and
started building his company from the ground up. His unfaced
demons, however, began sprouting, and he yet again turned to the
bottle to seek solace. The drinking got worse with every passing
day, it was all these problems, coupled with marital issues with
his wife that Akshay decided to seek therapy where he was diagnosed
with PTSD.
At that time, nothing seemed right and he had totally hit rock
bottom. Alcohol was his daily routine and see that this pattern
wasn’t going to change anytime soon, Akshay was filled with
thoughts of walking over to the kitchen, picking up a knife an
ending his own life.
He couldn’t believe the suicidal thoughts he was having, and that
was the wake-up call he needed to turn his life around.
As a way to fill the emptiness he felt, Akshay started getting
training for different careers. This led him to take a keen
interest in neuroscience, spirituality, religion, and psychology,
he kept on studying, book after book, and this would eventually
lead him to discover Fearvana.
As a way to fill the emptiness he felt, Akshay started getting
training for different careers. This led him to take a keen
interest in neuroscience, spirituality, religion, and psychology,
he kept on studying, book after book, and this would eventually
lead him to discover Fearvana.
QUOTES
[8:38] It’s during the times of war that you experience the
spectrum and intensity of the human experience at its most extreme.
You see the most awful things happen in war, the atrocities of
human evil. But you also see humanity at its finest, People
sacrificing their lives for fellow human beings
[18:49] Even when you’re in a war, even when you’re in an
environment you cannot control, you always have the freedom to
control your attitude. You could be in hell on earth, but you
always have the freedom to choose your own perspective.
[21:07] As Jesus says in the Bible, there’s no greater sacrifice
that man can do than by laying down his life for his friends.
[21:38] By recording the present, you craft what’s coming up in
your life
[23:16] I invite you to never stop chasing fear, or you will spend
your whole life running from it. If you are ready to take on that
battle between the part of you that wants to quit and the part that
wants to fight, you will enter the doorway to your next awakening,
at that moment you will experience the bliss of Fearvana.
Website:
www.fearvana.com
Facebook:
@AkshayNanavatiFan
Instagram:
@fearvana
Twitter:
@fearvanalife
You can buy the book here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1630476056/
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