imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:American Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War to :Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

2020-12-22T00:47:40Z

Moving Category:American Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War to Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

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{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
|image = File:Akshaymccain.jpg
|caption = Nanavati with [[John McCain]] in Iraq in 2007
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|10|15}}
|birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[Maharashtra]], India
|death_date = 
|death_place =
|nationality = American
|occupation = Speaker, author, runner
|known_for = ''Fearvana''
|parents =
|website = {{Official URL}}
}}
'''Akshay Nanavati''' (born October 15, 1984) is a [[United States Marine Corps|United States Marine]] veteran, speaker, entrepreneur, [[ultra runner]] and author. He served in Iraq during [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] and was later diagnosed with [[post traumatic stress disorder]]. His book ''Fearvana'' was endorsed by the [[Dalai Lama]] and [[Jack Canfield]].

==Early life and education==
Nanavati was born in [[Bombay]], India, on October 15, 1984. He has also lived in [[Bangalore]], [[Singapore]], [[Austin]], and [[Eden Prairie]], [[Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fearvana.com/about-us/ |title=About Us |publisher=Fearvana |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> He did his Bachelors of Arts in History at [[Southwestern University]].<ref name="su">{{cite web|url=https://www.southwestern.edu/live/news/6484-adventure-enthusiast |title=Adventure Enthusiast |publisher=Southwestern University. |date=February 13, 2012 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> During his high school years at [[Westlake High School (Texas)|Westlake High School]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.existing2living.com/about-old/about-akshay/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417055159/http://www.existing2living.com/about-old/about-akshay/ |archive-date=April 17, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> he watched the film ''[[Black Hawk Down (film)|Black Hawk Down]]'', which inspired him to join the [[United States Marine Corps]].<ref name="su"/> He currently lives in [[Basking Ridge]], [[New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cerasaro |first=Ashley J. |url=https://njmonthly.com/articles/jersey-living/ice-road-trekker/ |title=Ice Road Trekker: For this Basking Ridge resident, a 342-mile trek on skis across Greenland's enormous ice cap is just a walk in the park. |publisher=Njmonthly.com |date=January 16, 2012 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref>

==Career==
After overcoming [[drug addiction]], despite two doctors suggesting [[Training camp|boot camp]] could kill him because of a [[thalassemia|blood disorder]], he enlisted in the Marines.<ref name="inc.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/joshua-spodek/the-marine-the-dalai-lama-overcoming-ptsd-and-over.html |title=The Marine, the Dalai Lama, Overcoming PTSD, and Overcoming Fear |publisher=Inc.com |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> Nanavati was then sent to [[Haditha]], Iraq during [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/thai-nguyen/ptsd-a-marine-corps-veter_b_6134486.html |title=PTSD: A Marine Corps Veteran's Battle and Victory |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=December 6, 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> He was an infantry [[non-commissioned officer]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40443899/four-common-types-of-employee-recognition-that-usually-backfire |title=Three Types Of Employee Recognition That Backfire (And One That Doesn't) |publisher=Fastcompany.com |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> where one of his jobs was to walk in front of vehicles to find [[improvised explosive device]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-25/why-you-should-never-sleep-on-long-flights-travel-tips-from-a-marine |title=Why you should never sleep on long flights, travel tips from a Marine |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> and another as communications liaison.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/how-to-survive-a-marathon-flight/2017/09/07/72879332-8cd4-11e7-84c0-02cc069f2c37_story.html?noredirect=on |title=How to survive a marathon flight |work=The Washington Post |date=September 7, 2017 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> He later did his Masters of Arts in journalism from [[Syracuse University]]'s [[S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications]].<ref name="su"/> He eventually ended his tenure as a [[sergeant]] before graduating. He was also diagnosed by the [[Department of Veterans Affairs]] with [[post traumatic stress disorder]]<ref name="entrE"/> and [[survivor's guilt]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertlaura/2014/11/11/wounded-warriors/#2806d8d9446b |title=Wounded Warriors Using Entrepreneurship To Combat Military Injuries & Retirement |work=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref> which led him to [[alcoholism]] and [[mental health|depression]] before realizing he was on the brink of suicide. As a result, this led him to research [[neuroscience]], psychology and spirituality.<ref name="entrE">{{cite web|author=Akshay Nanavati |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/304193 |title=6 Lessons This Marine Veteran Learned Overcoming PTSD, Alcoholism and Suicidal Thoughts to Build a Successful Business |publisher=Entrepreneur.com |date= |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref>

While at base in Iraq, he started to run to cope with the stress of war. He then also decided to trek across every country in the world as a self-challenge.<ref name="entrE"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/g20835484/7-ways-that-running-makes-you-a-better-person/ |title=7 Ways That Running Makes You a Better Person |publisher=Runnersworld.com |date=November 28, 2016 |accessdate=September 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://chrisguillebeau.com/quest-to-run-across-every-country/ |title=From PTSD to "Fearvana": Akshay Nanavati's Quest to Run Across Every Country : The Art of Non-Conformity |publisher=Chrisguillebeau.com |date= |accessdate=2018-11-06}}</ref> In addition to seeking to run across the world, he also discovered skydiving, mountain biking, scuba diving, rock climbing and ice climbing as "anything that forced me to face my fears."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/run-around-the-world/index.html |title=Ex-Marine plans to beat PTSD by trekking every country |publisher=Edition.cnn.com |date= |accessdate=September 19, 2018}}</ref> He is also a public speaker.<ref>{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/akshay-nanavati2 |title=Akshay Nanavati - Author Biography |publisher=Entrepreneur.com |date= |accessdate=September 19, 2018}}</ref>

==''Fearvana''==
[[File:Iraqakshay.jpg|thumb|upright|Nanavati in Iraq during [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].]]
His philosophy is about fighting fear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/julesschroeder/2017/09/29/fearvana-how-millennials-are-using-fear-as-a-gateway-to-bliss/#62175b525724 |title=Fearvana: How Millennials Are Using Fear As A Gateway To Bliss |work=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2018-11-06}}</ref> As a result of his research, he wrote ''Fearvana'' which is, in his words, about the "revolutionary science of how to turn fear into health, wealth and happiness." He said of neuroscience, psychology and spirituality that:<ref name="amazon.com"/>
<blockquote>Fearvana teaches the science of how to transform all your seemingly negative emotions into health, wealth and happiness. Fearvana’s revolutionary approach shatters conventional wisdom, giving you the tools to leverage your fear, stress and anxiety to accomplish anything you set your mind to.</blockquote>

The [[Dalai Lama]] wrote the foreword for his book.<ref name="amazon.com">{{cite book|title=Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness: Akshay Nanavati: 9781630476052: Amazon.com: Books |date= October 10, 2017|isbn=978-1630476052 |last1=Nanavati |first1=Akshay }}</ref>
<blockquote>
I am happy that Akshay Nanavati has found the strength to overcome the traumatic experiences of his life and has developed the aspiration to help others. His book, Fearvana, inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences, suggesting means for overcoming our fears. I appreciate his sincerity and hope that others will find reason and the encouragement to see the positive side of their lives.<ref>Nanavati, Akshay. Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health. ''Forward''. Morgan James Publishing, 2017.</ref></blockquote>

It was also endorsed by [[Jack Canfield]],<ref name="inc.com"/> amongst others.<ref name="amazon.com"/> All his profits from the book go towards his non-profit,<ref>https://fearvana.com/about-us/</ref> ''Fearvana Foundation'', which sought funding for a [[vocational school]] in post-[[Second Liberian Civil War|civil war in Liberia]],<ref>https://www.fearvanafoundation.org/liberia</ref> amongst other projects.

==Bibliography==
* Nanavati, Akshay. 2017. ''Fearvana: The Revolutionary Science of How to Turn Fear into Health, Wealth and Happiness''. Morgan James Publishing.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* {{YouTube|channel=UC-qFd0va4ihixQs5jSZMCew}}
* {{Twitter}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nanavati, Akshay}}
[[Category:1984 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American motivational writers]]
[[Category:American people of Gujarati descent]]
[[Category:People from Bernards Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:People from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Southwestern University alumni]]
[[Category:Syracuse University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Marines]]
[[Category:Westlake High School (Texas) alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Texas]]
[[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War]]

Akshay Nanavati - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:American Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War to :Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Iraq War per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy