What happens when you die? I’m sure that’s a question that has at least crossed your mind once before.
My wife Jenn and I owned a hospice company for years. During this time, we experienced many individuals crossing over. The change in a room is palpable.
For most of us, we will only be able to answer this question of “what’s next” when it becomes our time. However for some, they have been able to experience the next phase of our journey and return.
My goal of this podcast is to interview those who have had NDE (near death experiences). “7 Minutes in Heaven” is exactly that. A 7 minute interview of those who have experienced life on the other side.
YOU’RE HERE TO SHARE YOUR TRUTH WITH THE WORLD.
It brings me great joy to know you are here, exploring the possibility of a life that’s led by love instead of fear.
When you choose to live from a place of love, you are free to be yourself, to connect with your desires, and to take action from a place of empowerment. When you choose to live from a place of fear, you are always trying to fit in, denying who you really are in order to satisfy the expectations of others. The latter not only deprives you of tremendous joy, but it also deprives the world of the real you; the you that is unique, gifted, and a pure facet of the Universe.
YOU SEE, IN EVERY MOMENT, YOU HAVE A CHOICE. TO EITHER HONOR THE PART OF YOU THAT CRAVES SOMETHING MORE. OR TO CONTINUE SQUEEZING INTO A ROLE THAT DOESN’T FILL YOUR CUP.
For most of my life, I didn’t know I had this choice. Although it felt painful at times, I believed that I had to try my hardest to “measure up” to the cultural rules set before me:
- To be a good Indian girl by marrying and having children, instead of pursuing an education in photography and graphic design.
- To be a subservient housewife who rolled a perfect chapatti, instead of a woman who had an exciting and abundant career.
- And to always attend to the desires of my husband, family, and friends before even considering my own.
For my entire life, I lived in fear of disappointing others, and I believed there was something wrong with me in the moments I failed to meet their wishes. I battled with the part of myself that wanted to do things differently and carve my own path. I had dreams of climbing Machu Picchu, enjoying paella in Spain, and seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
DEEP DOWN, I WANTED THE FREEDOM TO BE ME.
I just didn’t know how. So I went on playing it safe, toeing the line between fitting in and honoring my true self.
While I did go on to pursue some of my greatest desires—one of them being marrying the love of my life—fear always remained underneath all of my choices. No matter what challenge I was faced with, fear weakened my resolution. It filled me with doubt and triggered endless negative thoughts and feelings.
It wasn’t long before fear began to manifest itself in my physical form. At age 42, I found a lump in my shoulder and was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system, better known as lymphoma. For 4 years, my body was ravaged by not only the disease itself, but also my fear of it. My weight dropped to 80 pounds. I became too weak to walk on my own. And I started giving up hope that I would heal.
Then, one morning I didn’t wake up. My husband rushed me to the hospital where he was told that I had entered a coma and my organs were slowly shutting down, one by one. I didn’t have much time left.
What happened that day changed my life. While my body was being cared for by a team of doctors, I had what is called a near death experience or an NDE. And on that journey, I learned that my only purpose in life is to be a full expression of myself. To love myself to the core of my being. And to share my heart and soul with the world without fear.
