Confronting The Dark
Level 9000...Extraordinary Humans
Future Guardian! There are many reasons you could be subscribed to this newsletter. This post is for those of you who are willing eager to have your mind expanded to possibility and get an inside look at what The Guardians of the Guardian Academy do best: extraordinary
Many Guardians constantly push the boundaries to reveal a better future for all of us. When you decide to engage the field1 and come to an event, these are the extraordinary humans you’ll be rubbing elbows, collaborating with and learning with.
Akshay Nanavati is one of those extraordinary humans.
When we first met Guardian Akshay, he told us he was looking for someone that would amputate a perfectly functional finger. Apparently, sometimes the cost of extraordinary is a body part or two.
Got your attention?
Here we go…
Extraordinary is important.
Extraordinary humans push boundaries and, against all odds and understanding, against massive pushback and scrutiny, create new paradigms that move the entire world forward.
From the video on Akshay Nanavati’s website2:
“Akshay inspires us to look beyond our own agonizing experiences and find the positive side of our lives”
- The Dalai Lama
Since the dawn of humanity there have been many great deeds of human accomplishments that at one point defied reason…feats so grand they were beyond what we thought was even possible
There was a time where no human being had ever take flight…until Charles Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic in the first solo, non-stop flight
It was once believed to be impossible to run a sub 4 minute mile…until Roger Bannister did it.
It was said to be impossible to reach the bottom of the ocean, for the pressure would kill anyone that attempted it… until Don Walsh and Jacques Piccard reached the bottom of the Mariana Trench
Doctors said it would be impossible to reach the summit of Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen…and Reinhold Messner did it anyway.
We’ve done so much of the impossible - but there remains one last “impossible” feat in the polar regions; the Last Great Polar Journey. - Akshay Nanavati
Akshay is attempting to make the first, solo, cost-to-coast ski crossing of Antarctica. No dogs, no power, just Akshay and a 400 lb sled full of supplies that he has to drag across the ice by himself.
From his website:
In November 2024, Akshay will set foot in Antarctica to begin a 1,700 mile journey where he will drag a 400-pound sled filled with all his supplies needed to survive in one of the most unforgiving environments on the planet.
For 110 days, he will endure temperatures below -40 degrees, and hurricane force winds as he makes his way across the coldest, driest and windiest continent on Earth.
THIS JOURNEY WILL BREAK 3 WORLD RECORDS...
1. The first full, sea-to-sea, ski crossing of Antarctica, using no kites or dogs.
2. The first full, solo, sea-to-sea, ski crossing of Antarctica, using no kites or dogs.
3. The longest solo, unsupported ski expedition, using no kites or dogs.
It will be almost 4 months of isolation and pure suffering.
He will be completely alone... as isolated as a human being can be.
How does someone like Akshay approach what has been called by experts “impossible”?
Exploring The Edge(s)
The interview below was an impromptu interview. Akshay was in the room as an attendee at a Guardian meeting and Nic called him up to discuss his journey. Some of the cliff notes:
It’s not about seeking suffering, it’s about what’s on the other side. You have to battle the dragon to unearth the treasure. The greater the dragon (suffering, solitude, silence) the greater the treasure.
It’s a privilege to play on edges very few human beings get to play on. It’s a luxury to choose your own suffering. Most people on earth do not have the luxury of choosing their own suffering.
What works for Akshay may not work for others, it comes back to knowing yourself.
It’s important to play on both edges/extremes. If you play in extreme darkness (sadness, suffering, tragedy), make time to play in extreme light (laughter, dancing, fun). The edges help you develop new constructs and paradigms.
Allow yourself to feel what you feel. Recognize it, give it space and respect it.
Have a dialogue with the voices that creep in. This can create separation between the voice and you. Some voices will tell you “I’m a piece of shit”, others will tell you “I’m invincible” - recognize neither is you. Hearing and engaging with them acknowledges that they are outside of you.
Do we agree with Akshay on everything? Of course not. Dude is nuts.
Do we support him and his mission? Of course we do. Because to play on the edge and to push the boundaries in one domain we must respect and support others doing the same in another domain - even if it’s edges and boundaries we don’t understand or want to play on.
Watch the interview with fellow Guardian Akshay below and pay attention to your response. Is it judgement? Excitement? Fascination? And then remember that feeling… for when you step into your Arena and the people around you don’t understand.
Months prior, Akshay was interviewed by Joe Polish and Dr. Cheri Ong at another Guardian event. That replay and audio can also be found below.
Joe Polish Interviews Akshay at a Guardian Event:
Watch the replay here.
Listen to the Audio version here.
Resources:
Can Helping Yourself Hurt You? Dealing with scrutiny and expectation
Engage The Field: Reality vs The Classroom and engaging the field.
Akshay is a very good friend and Guardian. He is hosting a get together for friends and family this month before he goes off on his expedition. If you’re a Guardian and would like to attend (it’s here in Phoenix) let us know and you can come as a guest of ours.
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Guardian Academy.
PS. Speaking of extraordinary… remember, there is a live workshop tonight. Invites have been added to Guardians calendars. Paid subscribers can get their link to join at the bottom of this article here.
"Play both sides of the edge." Money!!!