#430: Akshay Nanavati – The First Ever Solo Ski Across Antarctica?
Nov 17, 2023
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Akshay Nanavati, a United States Marine veteran, speaker, entrepreneur, ultra runner and author, talks about mental talk, his tools for attempting the first solo ski across Antarctica, the spiritual aspect of endurance, training presence, and lessons learned in darkness.
Facing personal demons through stillness and using them as fuel for growth.
Reframing emotions like guilt and fear for personal growth and self-awareness.
The spiritual aspects of endurance sports and the power of nature for introspection.
Deep dives
Using stillness to confront personal demons
The speaker discusses his journey of using stillness to confront his personal demons and find peace. Through various intense experiences, such as mountaineering and running ultras, he initially used these activities to avoid facing the demons from his time in Iraq. However, after hitting rock bottom and being on the verge of suicide, he delved deep into neuroscience, psychology, and spirituality. He learned to confront and engage with his own demons, transforming his relationship with them and using them as fuel for personal growth and transformation.
Reframing guilt and fear for personal growth
The speaker shares how he reframed emotions like guilt and fear in order to use them as valuable fuel for personal growth. He explains how he shifted his perspective on guilt, seeing it as an expression of love and using it as motivation to write a book and help others navigate their own fears and struggles. He discusses the value of fear in building courage and highlights the importance of accepting emotions rather than demonizing them. By labeling emotions and accepting them, one can respond to them rather than react, leading to personal growth and greater self-awareness.
Using endurance sports and nature for spiritual experiences
The speaker explores the spiritual aspects of endurance sports, particularly in nature. He discusses how endurance activities, such as running ultras and polar expeditions, force individuals to confront their minds and be present in the moment. He explains how nature acts as a mirror to the soul, allowing individuals to experience dualities and oneness simultaneously. He shares his experiences of being in hostile environments like Antarctica, where he feels both humbled by nature's power and connected to his own inner strength. He also discusses the spiritual insights he gained from darkness retreats and the power of accessing stillness and introspection.
Using method acting and memory manipulation for personal growth
The speaker introduces the concepts of method acting and memory manipulation in the context of personal growth. He explains how method acting can help individuals embody the characteristics and traits necessary for their desired future selves. He discusses the malleability of memories and the power of manipulating memories to shape future perceptions and experiences. By consciously imprinting positive emotions and perspectives onto memories, individuals can alter their relationship with the past and create a more empowered future. He shares his own experiences with method acting and memory manipulation, including using these tools in his preparation for skiing across Antarctica.
The Illusion of Memory
Memories are not reliable and can be seen as illusions. The speaker shared a personal exercise where they questioned their own memories, highlighting the unreliability of memory. By recognizing this, they expressed the freedom to choose what to believe.
Dualities and Virtues
The speaker discussed the concept of dualities and the importance of holding conflicting thoughts. They shared personal examples of embracing conflicting thoughts to cultivate courage, presence, curiosity, and a sense of humor. The speaker emphasized the practice of awareness and acceptance to navigate life's struggles.
Akshay Nanavati is a United States Marine veteran, speaker, entrepreneur, ultra runner and author. He served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In this episode, we talked about mental talk, his two biggest tools for attempting the first ever solo ski across Antartica, why endurance is spiritual, how to train presence, and what he learned in 7 days of darkness.
