About Me - Rajneesh Sehgal
From 311 Pounds to Running a Marathon - My Ongoing Transformation
Dear Duniyawaalo (People of the World),
My name is Rajneesh Sehgal, and today marks the beginning of an adventure that I have long wanted to share with you through my writing.
I am no expert. I am just a regular guy who is an eternal optimist. A few years ago, I went through a proverbial midlife crisis and finally decided to take charge of my life by adopting a mindful, intellectually curious, and healthy lifestyle.
My journey has been long and filled with ups and downs, but it has brought me to a place of fulfillment, joy, and energy unlike anything I could have imagined.
It was heartwarming to see people reaching out to me and sharing how my journey had inspired them to make positive changes in their lives. Some even pushed me to share my story, believing that my experiences, knowledge, and lessons learned could benefit more people.
For a long time, I wrestled with imposter syndrome, which kept me from taking the first step.
Now, with a deep sense of purpose, I am excited to share my story with all of you. By opening up about my experiences, I hope to inspire many more to take steps toward meaningful transformations.
Brief History
I come from the vibrant city of Mumbai (India), where I spent my childhood and pursued my degree in Computer Science. My life’s path led me to America and the suburbs of Chicago, where I share my heart and home with my wife and two boys.
My professional journey has had its share of ups and downs, notably a 20-year tenure as a Director at Flexera. A significant change came during the COVID-19 pandemic when I lost my job with Flexera and transitioned to my current role as a CTO and a Business Partner at SKUforce.
Feeling Lost and Search for Meaning
The man you see today is a testament to the transformative power of mindfulness. Six years ago, I was a different person. On the outside, it seemed like I had a perfect life. However, inside, I felt stuck in a life I didn’t recognize. I didn’t feel like doing anything, and things that were important to me at one time didn’t feel important anymore. There were days when I didn’t feel like getting out of bed.
I thought that with all my success and financial stability, I would “feel” different. I asked myself, “Is this all there is?”
In search of answers, I took comfort in food and drinks, and as a result, my health suffered. I put on a lot of weight. At my peak, I was 311 pounds, and I used to take six different prescription medications to get through the day. I finally hit rock bottom when I had kidney stones, and I had to go through an excruciating procedure to remove them.
That is the day I told myself, “NO MORE.”
It became more painful for me to continue living like I was living than to do the hard things to bring about change.
It was a moment of reckoning, a loud and straightforward call to action for a healthier, more mindful me.
My Foundations of Transformation
My transformative journey may have seen different dimensions of growth, but they are all based on foundation principles.
Intellectual Curiosity and Personal Development
It all started with curiosity and an insatiable hunger for knowledge. I consumed everything on personal development. Books, videos, audiobooks, seminars, and blogs. You name it, I have consumed it.
Despite all the knowledge, meaningful changes in my life happened once I learned the hard truth.
Knowledge holds only potential power. The real magic happens only when we apply that knowledge to transform our lives.
This realization became the cornerstone of my transformation.
Mindfulness and Meditation
I learned that looking for answers to life’s difficult questions is not an outward but an inward journey. That journey led me to learn and practice mindfulness and meditation using the Headspace App.
At first, sitting quietly, focusing on breathing, and emptying the mind of day-to-day concerns was foreign and somewhat challenging.
Meditation offered me not just moments of peace but a new way of seeing the world.
With an unbreakable daily meditation streak of 1566 days (as of May 20, 2024), mindfulness is no longer just a practice for me. It’s a way of life.
I also became a morning person, not because I love dawn but because I had to claim some ME time before the demands of life took over.
Meditation has taught me that the most significant battles are often internal, and mastering my thoughts and emotions is the first step towards winning any external challenge.
The Physical Rebirth
Once I decided to adopt a mindset geared towards health, I took to running. I always thought running was reserved for others, not for someone my age and weight (45 years and 311 pounds).
With each step, I shed pounds and gained a new perspective on what was possible. Over three years, I went from 311 Pounds to 241 Pounds, losing 70 Pounds.
I completed my first marathon in Chicago in 2023, an achievement that once seemed beyond my wildest dreams. During the spring, I completed my second marathon in Milwaukee. I am now training for my third in the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
I admit I have gained some weight over the winter. I plan to lose it all in the summer of 2024 as I train for my second marathon, the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
Maintaining weight loss is often more challenging than losing it in the first place.
Running has become more than exercise. It became a way of life for resilience, determination, and the joy of challenging myself.
Daily Gratitude Journaling
I also focused on nurturing my emotional well-being to support my mental and intellectual growth.
For almost four years now, I have been writing in my gratitude journal about one thing I am grateful for daily. This simple practice has been transformative in many ways and has helped me focus on the positives in my life. Slowly and gradually, my daily practice of expressing gratitude has helped me build a mindset of appreciation and contentment.
No matter how challenging or unbearable life may become, there is always something to be grateful for.
Daily Dream Log Journaling
I have also maintained a daily dream log for almost two years, allowing me to explore and interpret my subconscious thoughts and desires.
This practice has helped me better understand myself and provided me with insights into my hidden fears and desires, which operate below the surface of my conscious mind.
Exploring New Interests
Being healthy, mindful, and intellectually curious is not just what I do. It is who I am.
I am exploring new interests such as day trading, stand-up comedy open mics, The Moth StorySLAM, and Toastmasters.
I am also learning and exploring the potential of AI and large language models to help people lead more mindful, intellectually curious, and healthy lives.
My Newsletter Goals and What to Expect
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey. This post was a way to introduce myself and my ongoing journey thus far.
In the coming weeks and months, I plan to delve deeper into my experiences, the lessons learned, and the specific strategies that helped me transform my life.
Most of my posts will focus on mindfulness techniques, dietary and fitness advice, summaries of influential books and seminars, and honest reflections on the challenges and triumphs of my transformation.
If any of this resonates with you, I invite you to subscribe and join me on this journey of self-discovery, growth, and fulfillment.
Together, we will help bring about meaningful change and celebrate our journey toward a mindful, intellectually curious, healthy lifestyle.
Welcome Aboard!
❤️ Rajneesh