249: Plot Twist with Manoj Dias
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249: Plot Twist with Manoj Dias
Episode 249: Show Notes
In this bite-sized episode of The Light Watkins Show, Light shares a powerful "Plot Twist" moment from a past conversation with Manoj Dias, a mindfulness and meditation teacher who experienced a life-changing transformation.
Manoj was on the fast track to success, working in marketing and climbing the corporate ladder. But behind the scenes, he was struggling. The pressures of his career, personal life, and a non-stop lifestyle eventually led to a panic attack that brought his world crashing down. What followed was a challenging journey through depression, addiction, and anxiety, as he desperately tried to hold it all together.
In this episode, Manoj reflects on the moment when everything shifted for him — the plot twist that changed the course of his life. After hitting rock bottom, a chance encounter with a meditation teacher opened the door to healing and self-discovery. Manoj talks openly about his struggles, his search for meaning, and how mindfulness helped him rebuild his life from the inside out.
Listeners will hear how even the toughest moments in life can turn into opportunities for growth and transformation. This episode is a reminder that plot twists aren’t setbacks — they’re often detours that lead us exactly where we need to go.
Tune in for an inspiring and relatable story that shows how mindfulness and meditation can help anyone overcome life's toughest challenges. Whether you’re facing stress, anxiety, or uncertainty, this episode offers valuable insights into finding peace and purpose.
And if you want to hear more about how Manoj navigated his mental struggles, click here.
Key Points From This Episode:
Manoj’s Panic Attack as a Turning Point: A life-threatening panic attack forced Manoj to confront his stress and disconnection from himself.
Climbing the Corporate Ladder While Burning Out: Manoj shares how his high-pressure marketing career led to burnout and unhealthy coping mechanisms.
The Role of Family Responsibility: Becoming a father at 18 shaped Manoj’s early years and defined his sense of success and responsibility.
Struggles with Mental Health and Misdiagnosis: Manoj talks about being misdiagnosed with ADHD and his battle with addiction and insomnia.
A Chance Encounter with a Meditation Teacher: Meeting a meditation teacher unexpectedly shifted the course of Manoj’s life toward healing and mindfulness.
Breaking Free from Limiting Beliefs: Manoj realized he didn’t have to be defined by his suffering, leading to a deeper sense of self-awareness and peace.
Quotes:
“I realized, at that very moment he said that, that I could observe these thoughts without actually becoming each thought." —Manoj Dias
"Suffering is inevitable… but don’t identify with your suffering. You are not your thoughts." — Manoj Dias
“It quickly became evident that this wasn’t a normal yoga class. This was very much like a Dharma talk and meditation, and some gentle movements. It was like he was seeing into my experience, and telling me exactly what I needed to hear." —Manoj Dias
“Prayer became a very central practice to me. Every night, I would go to sleep and just ask to be better and for life to look after my child, my family, and my friends." — Manoj Dias
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Follow Manoj on social media: @ManojDias_
Listen to Manoj’s full episode here: https://www.lightwatkins.com/show/manoj-dias