Do you know your calling? What if it’s not what you studied in school or what you’re doing for work?
My guest on the most recent Lean Out Podcast is following his calling, and it’s not exactly the straight career path he originally chose. Dr. Sanj Katyal was pushed early in life to get an engineering degree. He found his way to medical school and radiology. But after successfully leading a radiology startup group for several years, Sanj turned his focus toward understanding wellbeing, positive psychology, and harnessing the power of the subconscious mind.
Today, Sanj works part-time as a radiologist while also working with adolescents, young adults, and families to overcome their mental barriers. He teaches a course at a local college and has written a book called Positive Psychology: Ancient and Modern Wisdom to Create a Flourishing Life.
Sanj’s story began in the high-stakes world of medicine, where long hours left him disconnected. Burnout sparked a shift toward simplicity, inspired by stoic philosophy and a focus on what truly matters. He champions subtracting noise—think mindless scrolling or draining obligations—to make room for real connections. He immersed himself in the world of positive psychology and rapid transformation therapy. Seeing how much of a difference both modalities made for him, he trained to practice them for the benefit of others.
In this conversation, we discuss exactly how Sanj splits his time between radiology and wellness work. We discuss the ups and downs of finding your true calling when it’s not exactly what you happen to have studied or be doing for work. We also engage in some bonus discussion about raising kids with screens, since Sanj is a father of four and many of his clients are teens, young adults, and families. There’s a lot of useful information for everyone in this episode!
What are you feeling called to do these days? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below!
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