WITH HIS WRITINGS, THIS AUTHOR IS SPREADING THE MESSAGE OF LIVING WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE

Author Interview: Ankit Jhamb

Ankit Jhamb holds a master’s degree in Human Resources and Psychology. He is a Clinical Hypnotherapist, a Reiki practitioner, a Wellness coach, and Neuro Linguistic Programming and MBTI Practitioner. His comprehensive approach to human behaviour mixes psychology, neuroscience, spirituality and Ayurveda. He believes in looking at life from a holistic point of view. He has recently come out with the book “Lost and Found at 35”, in which wellness lessons have been weaved in a story format. In a candid chat with Chirdeep Malhotra, he talks about his recent book, his writing journey, his favourite books and authors, and much more. Read On!



Please tell us more about Ankit Jhamb as a person.

I live in Delhi and I work as an associate director with a consulting organisation. I have always worked in the space of behavioural sciences with special interest in mental health, and have been working for about 14 years now. I also run a social venture by the name of ‘Aao Khilayein’ where we help people from underprivileged sections of the society. Alongside this, I have founded a practice called as ‘Speak up’ to help people with mental health issues.



Has writing always been a part of your life? Or did you chance upon it later on and then instantly fell in love with it?

Writing was never part of my life. I was at best a poet, that too an infrequent one. “Lost and Found at 35” is my first book. You can say that I did chance upon writing my first book and now the second and third are happening as well. Actually a very wise friend told me once that we all have at least one book within us, you become an author when you write your second one. So I guess with the second one I will officially be an author.



Please tell us more about your book “Lost and Found at 35”.

“Lost and Found at 35” is a novel based on Positive Psychology. It revolves around a character named Arjun who is 35 years of age and tried to commit suicide. Suffering from depression and a lack of fulfilment in life, he makes this half baked attempt at killing himself. He lives and in a random quiet moment decided to leave his house and embark on a journey to nowhere. He hops on a bus without knowing the destination, only to his surprise the bus was off to Ladakh. In the next 10 days he meets some 6 strangers who teach him the 4 Ps of life. These are – Finding Passion, Pursuing Passion, Refining it by learning the process and the finding your Purpose. He goes through this roller coaster ride in 10 days and realises that his passion is to write, and his purpose would be to author books. Books which would help people and uplift them. He then decided to write a book on the last 10 days of his own life. That’s the how and why of “Lost and Found at 35”.



How has the response of readers been to your book?

The response to the book has been really heart touching and overwhelming. I have received messages and calls by readers expressing how touched they felt, how the book helped them forgive, how the book got them back to their passions. Few began writing, few started painting and singing. The ability to pursue passion is a choice and not a gift was the message and I think people heard and respected it loud and clear.



This book is a self-help book, which has been wrapped as fiction. What made you decide on such a structure for the book? How did the idea of this book originate?

The book has scientific fundamentals, but then who wants to learn science in their mid 20s, 30s, and 40s. Stories have always fascinated me. In my theatre days I would write scripts and read scripts and visualise myself in them. Hence I decided to write a story and use it to reach people, their hearts and their minds.



What type of research went into writing this book?

The book is actually a culmination of my own research and experience of the last 15 years of reading psychology, the work of flow, the science and biochemistry of happiness, and clinical psychology. It has everything packed into a story which makes us believe that Arjun is one amongst us.



You have been working a lot on raising awareness about mental health. What advice would you give those who are going through a difficult time, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic?

My advice is very simple – if you go to a doctor for kidney stones, fever, viral infection and other common daily routine issues, then why hold yourself back from seeking therapy. You don’t need to wait for a few bad days to lead to clinical depression. Hence speak up.
If we can have our general physician’s contact handy in our mobile phone, why is it so tough to keep the number of a counsellor, coach or psychologist handy as well.



You have also founded ‘Speak Up’ for helping people going through mental disorders such as Depression, Stress and Anxiety and Paranoia. Can you tell us about this venture of yours?

Sure. I started ‘Speak Up’ totally out of my passion in the area of common mental disorders. I wanted to make sure that the people who needed help, or medicinal therapy were given that comfort. ‘Speak Up’ ensures that there is a safe environment, platform and network of experts who can navigate and help people through tough times with a scientific approach.



Can you recommend five books from any genre, for our readers to add to their reading lists, that you particularly cherish?

These are “Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, “New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle, “Learned Optimism” by Martin Seligman, “Flow” by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi and “Autobiography of a Yogi”.



What are you working on next? Any new literary projects that our readers should look out for?

I have actually put my second book up for publishing. It’s called “Lights Please” and revolves around trauma, alcoholism and spirituality. It is partly inspired from a true story.



There are many new writers and poets who are aspiring to get their work published. What would you say to them?

Have the guts to start pursuing your passion. Develop the commitment to do it with discipline and consistency. Take criticism and become a bit detached to your own work. If successful, surrender and have gratitude.



Can you share with our readers a motivational quote that keeps you going?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It’s our light not our darkness that most frightens us.” It’s a long one but these are the most important lines. They belong to Marriane Williamson but I had heard this many years back in the movie Coach Carter.