PVPF 2024

Interview with Sagar Makwana author of “Be you Now”

Frontlist's exclusive interview with Sagar Makwana, author of 'Be You Now.' Gain insights into this inspiring book and author's journey.
on Oct 26, 2023

Sagar is an Entrepreneur by profession, Speaker by passion and a Believer by action. A certified Emotionally Focused Therapist, he is also an expert in Self-Introspection and Purpose Building. A problem solver and an avid thinker, Sagar likes to make people uncomfortable with life-changing and thought-provoking questions. Sagar is also a Master Trainer in India's biggest Train The Trainer Academy. He has passionately involved himself in his journey to bring about change by spreading positivity. He even launched his own signature course “ Let’ s Love Living” in 2020 that has impacted more than one thousand people so far. Sagar’ s experience as a corporate employee, entrepreneur, and now a trainer, speaker, and mentor has provided fodder for many of the book’ s concepts that will strongly resonate with his readers. He also believes that coupled with a passion to eat, pray, and love, life’ s musings are best enjoyed when shared with others.

Frontlist: What's your vision for the impact you hope to achieve with your Book, especially regarding mental health awareness and self-improvement?

Sagar: I believe that there are different kinds of people in this world. And there can't be a one-fit solution for all of their problems. What's important is we become aware of who we are as a person before seeking solutions to our problems. Through my Book, readers can make the effort to understand themselves better.

By setting up a lot of intriguing questions, I let the readers discover themselves and, in that process, allow them to be themselves rather than become a part of a system that expects them to act and work in a certain kind of way.

That itself becomes a liberating process mentally, which further pushes them on a path of self-improvement.

Frontlist: Maintaining optimism and balance is crucial in today's fast-paced and uncertain world. What are some potent techniques or strategies from your Book that readers can apply to achieve this? As an Entrepreneur and author, how do you maintain such a balance?

Sagar: There are three dimensions to finding balance in one's life.

1. Understanding who we are and what we really want

2. Figuring out what our core strengths are

3. Finding out what we can expect in life through our core strengths and if that is in alignment with what we want

When these three dimensions align, you can notice a phenomenal shift in how life works for them. My Book makes a sincere effort to help you do that.

I can vouch for these methods myself because these have worked for me in optimizing my time and balancing my life as an entrepreneur, coach, author, speaker, husband, and father.

Frontlist: Your signature course, "Let's Love Living," has impacted many people. Could you highlight some key takeaways from the course that readers can also expect to find in your Book?

Sagar: Here are some of the key takeaways from my course that have found their way into the Book as well

Listening to your inner voice as a human being
Understanding what makes you unique
Truly building from your experiences as a human being
Finally, getting the courage to believe in yourself
Understanding that we are all different and there's nothing wrong with that
Embracing that inner voice and, through that, embracing yourself

Frontlist: Your Book is praised for its practicality and how it offers realistic steps for behavioral change. Can you provide some examples of these practical insights that readers can apply to the well-being of themselves & their loved ones?

Sagar: The one thing I sincerely wanted to do through my Book was not to have a shot problem-solving solution approach. And behavioral change requires just that—the freedom to pick and choose a solution that works for us.

To do that, I have used the power of stories to help explain how one can come out of situations that put one under pressure. We are bound by three perennial concerns in our lives- our past, circumstances, and self-defeating beliefs. If we understand what these are, it can bring a fresh perspective to our lives. Chapter number 5, which is aptly titled 'Attacking Your Biggest Enemy,' talks about these points in detail.

Frontlist: In your Book, you emphasize the significance of discovering one's life's purpose, and there's a well-known saying that suggests two pivotal days in a person's life: the day they are born and the day they discover why they were born. Please share your perspective on why individuals must find their life's purpose. Furthermore, could you describe how you personally came to realize your purpose in life?"

Sagar: I've understood that there are three inevitable things that happen to us in our lives- birth, death, and, of course, taxes.

We don't have the liberty to choose when we are born or who we are born to. But we have a choice to find our purpose and start living it. Not because we get that fulfillment that we want or feel we have achieved something. But because this is what we were meant to do. To live out a purpose. That's the sole reason that all of us are built differently- physically and mentally. And I don't believe that purpose is something that involves just you. What do you do when you find your purpose? That's a question so profoundly answered by Rumi in one of his quotes-

'The meaning of your life is to find your gift. The purpose of your life is to give it away.'

The only question is, when are we going to do that? Are we going to wait for old age to dawn upon us only for us to realize that this is not how we want to live our lives? Or are we going to take action today to bring into effect the change that makes us live life by who we are?

And it's not the understanding of our purpose but the realization that awakens that light within us. This realization dawned upon me over a period of time when I realized that my voice needs to be heard even more out there. I haven't looked back since, and this Book is one of the efforts to make my voice heard to help people understand themselves better.

Frontlist: On the occasion of approaching World Mental Health Day, what message or words of encouragement would you like to offer to readers who are embarking on their journey of self-discovery and personal growth?

Sagar: I would like to quote a poem I penned a few years ago and how I still find it relevant and true. This is an ode to the promising journey that begins when you really go deep into Be You. Now!

Problems aren't minor, and sadness isn't far,

But let life not leave a scar,

Say goodbye to that misery from afar.

Life will try to get to you someday,

Look at it in the eyes and say NOT TODAY,

And make today more memorable than YESTERDAY.

It's easy to crib, cry, and whine,

But remember, NOW is your time to shine,

And leave your footprints on the sands of time.

Don't let anger and pain make you sink,

Because life is much shorter than you think,

It might all go away in just a blink,