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Furkhan Dandia says:
Hey everyone! My name is Furkhan, and I’m a therapist, author, speaker and coach. After going through adversity and working in the corporate world as an Engineer for many years, I decided to pivot and pursue a Master's in Psychology. I have a newfound passion for making a difference in people’s lives and working with them to find their purpose.
Going through a divorce made me realize how much shame there is for men around failure. That further motivated me to help other men like myself. After seeing the life-changing benefits of therapy, I decided to become a therapist. In addition to becoming a therapist, I have a podcast: EZ Conversations, a men's group that I facilitate to help men embrace their vulnerabilities, and I also released a book, Pursuit Of Self-Love: 30 Uplifting Messages and Reflections
When struggling with adversity, I wish I had someone to turn to. Someone whom I could speak with, someone who could help me navigate through things, or even provide me with a different perspective. While everyone struggles with adversity differently, adversity is relative, and we all need support.
What helped me overcome my struggles, build resiliency and grow was surrounding myself with positive people, digging deep and seeking therapy. I spent many hours reading and learning about myself, opening myself up to difficult truths and working through each issue one at a time with the help of a therapist. To move forward and work on me, I needed to change my thought patterns and how I perceived situations and try to find gratitude. I don’t have it all figured out today and still encounter daily challenges. I still need to sit down and dig deep, be curious, question my choices and then work through them using mindfulness. I have only scratched the surface of this journey of life-long learning.
https://www.eunoiazen.com/about
Furkhan Dandia Vroom Vroom Veer Stories
Grew up in Montreal Canada and his East Indian parents would only pay for Med School, Law School or Engineering so he picked Mechanical Engineering
Loved engieering and still does, but he wanted to challenge himself and grow into new ways of thinking
Fell into the work hard play hard and party on the weekends with his party friend aka drinking buddies; this led to some normal from the outside but not “right” in his mind
Decided to take 2 weeks off alchohol to see if he would feel much better; turns out he was able to sleep much better and felt amazing
Realized at some point that he needed to seperate from his partner to be his best self; there is alot of shame involved in failing at marriage but he wanted to be his best self for himself, his son and the rest of the world
Works primarily with men one on one in groups to help find the childhood trauma from our past and help to heal those old wounds
Show Summary
In this episode of “Vroom Vroom Veer” hosted by Jeff Smith, the conversation revolves around Furkhan Dandia's personal journey toward finding a Eunoia Zen state of mind, characterized by resilience, mental toughness, and grace. Furkhan discusses his transition from working as an engineer to becoming a men's coach, therapist, and podcaster, driven by his own struggles during a painful separation and his subsequent personal growth.
Jeff begins the episode by setting a welcoming tone and asking Furkhan to introduce his concept of Eunoia Zen, which he details as a framework he developed during his personal and professional transformation. Furkhan elaborates on the importance of having a well mindset and talks about his website and the services he offers.
The conversation delves into Furkhan's backstory, including his ethnic and educational roots, initial career in engineering, and the societal and parental pressures that influenced his early career choices. Furkhan shares insights into his decision to switch careers following his separation at 34, seeking a Master's in Psychology, and his new-found passion for helping men navigate similar life challenges.
Furkhan and Jeff discuss the dynamics of childhood trauma, societal expectations, and the influence of early life conditioning on adult behaviors and choices. Furkhan emphasizes the power of therapy and coaching in addressing these issues.
Further, the dialogue covers Furkhan's struggle with substance abuse, particularly alcohol, during his separation and how it impacted his life choices and social interactions. He narrates his path to recovery, highlighting the importance of making healthier life choices, like focusing on sleep and forming new, supportive social circles.
The discussion also touches on the broader societal issues of addiction, the normalization of harmful behaviors, and the challenges of reintegrating into society post-rehab. Furkhan expresses his ongoing work with men in group settings and one-on-one sessions, aimed at fostering vulnerability and mutual support to combat isolation.
Jeff and Furkhan also critique modern societal pitfalls, such as the overabundance of instant gratification options and the impact of addictive behaviors on personal and social well-being.
The episode wraps up with Jeff reminding listeners of Furkhan’s website and Furkhan's mention of his own podcast, intended to normalize mental health discussions. Jeff concludes the episode by summarizing key points and reinforcing the message of personal accountability and self-improvement.
Overall, this podcast episode presents a rich narrative of personal transformation, the pursuit of mental health awareness, and the importance of self-love and supportive communities in overcoming life's challenges.
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