Stay Grounded with Raj Jana

“If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” - Frank A. Clark In the search for happiness, you will encounter struggle and challenge. It’s an inevitable, unavoidable fact of life. Struggle and fear is something we inherently want to avoid, because it doesn’t feel good, but by avoiding a core human emotion, we can lose out on the fullness life has to offer.  It’s why I loved chatting with Akshay Nanavati - bestselling author of Fearvana. Akshay’s approach to fear is an absolute game-changer. Instead of avoiding fear, Akshay’s created a revolutionary method that proactively embraces the struggle and uses fear as a tool for happiness and success.  Akshay convinced me that the narrative around struggle needs to change. Rather than being an experience to avoid, struggle can become a North Star for personal growth. Akshay’s insights have had a profound impact on my life and in this Coffee Break episode I share my personal reflections from this powerful interview. In this episode I talk about:Why I’ve decided to define what I’ll gladly struggle for. (2:40)The reason struggle is a requirement for happiness, fulfilment, and personal growth. (3:37)The importance of learning from people 10 steps ahead of you. (5:06)My thoughts on what it means to ‘earn your life’. (7:30)How I’m using Akshay’s music hack to use emotions and moods intentionally. (8:27)How a deeper awareness of our emotions can help us become a better person. (9:01)What becomes possible when you can intentionally reframe your emotions. (10:40) “You can’t change what’s happening to you, but you can change the way you react to it.” Enjoyed this reflection?Make sure you listen to the full interview with Akshay Nanavati:[Ep. 2] The Fear-Fueled Route To Happiness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“If you don’t seek out struggle, it will find you anyway.” Today’s guest persuaded the Dalai Lama to write the foreword of his new book - FEARVANA: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear Into Health, Wealth and Happiness. Akshay Nanavati is used to living life at the extremes. Akshay has battled with drug addiction in high school, was diagnosed with PTSD after serving as a marine in Iraq, and is now obsessed with all kinds of extreme sports ranging from marathon running to cave diving to skydiving. It means his story is riddled with struggle, pain, and survivor’s guilt. While the demons still haunt, Akshay has manifested a way of life that transforms fear into a powerful tool for growth and happiness. By actively seeking out and immersing himself in the struggle, Akshay has architected a revolutionary path to success and fulfilment for himself while sharing his message with millions around the world. And in this episode he shares some practical strategies that you can use to revolutionize your relationship with fear and emotions. “The biggest mistake when it comes to happiness is that we live in a world that has us think that happiness is an end result.” We all seek happiness, but Akshay has found a route along a path that many of us would be reluctant to walk. Instead of allowing agonizing experiences to define his life, he’s found a way to use them as a key to unlock success and fulfilment. In this episode, Akshay explains the importance of a ‘worthy struggle’ and argues that we should all proactively seek out ‘Spark Moments’ (or instances of inspiration) to create more happiness. He explores the value of intentional living and the importance of taking control of your emotions so you can decide how you want to feel. Akshay has some brilliant insights and I was in awe at the value of everything he shared when I listened to the episode again. I’m so pumped for you to listen to this podcast as we explore an approach to fear-based living that could change your life. “Being conscious and proactive about how, when, and what emotions you want to experience is a game-changer.” Some questions I ask:How do you cultivate a practice of consistently having Spark Moments? (6:31)What does your daily routine look like? (13:09)What role does gratitude play in your life? (18:01)What have been some of your biggest Spark Moments and in what format did they come? (22:19)Do have a process for reflecting and collecting your Spark Moments? (25:05)You have some powerful motivators pushing you. Do you have a daily practice that helps you stay focused and keep the demons away? (33:22)How do you #StayGrounded? (45:00) In this episode, you will hear about:How Black Hawk Down got Akshay off drugs almost overnight. (3:42)Why pain is a very strong motivator for behavior change. (5:03)Why Spark Moments are the key to a fulfilled life. (5:55)What Fearvana means. (7:04)Akshay’s definition of happiness - and how to find it. (11:19)The power of simplicity and the benefit of removing decisions from your day. (13:11)Why Akshay used to struggle with gratitude and what it taught him about life. (18:15)The two things that all growth has in common. (24:30)The reason Akshay was inspired by someone who started at a blank wall for 24-hours. (26:20)The importance of NOT judging your emotions.The role guilt plays in Akshay’s life and how it’s become a powerful motivator. (30:08)How Akshay persuaded The Dalai Lama to write the foreword in his new book. (42:40) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome To The Stay Grounded Podcast “You measure yourself by the people that measure themselves by you” - Phil Knight Today I’m super excited to let you in on something new that I’ve wanted to do for AGES. One of the driving forces behind JavaPresse is the search for contagious happiness. Now happiness means different things to all of us. There’s no real formula, just different ideas. But those ideas can inspire us, which is why I wanted to start the Stay Grounded Podcast. I think happiness is at the core of our human experience. It’s a feeling we all crave and look for - and it’s also something we’re really good at complicating. (I know I am!) For example, we’ll push off the things we love to another time. We end up prioritizing the wrong stuff because of work pressures and other responsibilities. But when we’re hungry for joy, we dull our perception of the little things. Joy is light - and even in the depths of despair there’s always a glimmer that can pull you back into yourself. It’s why I wanted to create this podcast. I wanted to spark conversations about happiness - and the many routes to the feeling we all want to be filled with. That’s the thing with happiness… There is no set formula, just different paths and different perspectives. But when we hear other people’s stories, we can feel inspired to find something new in our own lives. I want you to know that I’ve found some incredible guests for the podcast. There are people who’ve created good from unspeakable tragedy. People who’ve walked away from everything to follow their passion. People who have overcome addiction to inspire others. Remarkable, simple stories that all have the same ending… happiness everyday :) So I’d love you to listen in and when you do it’s my wish that you’ll hear something, which unlocks more joy in your life. #StayGrounded. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.