Is anybody else curious about NDE’s—near death experiences? There’s information on them from varied sources, and literature going back 2,400 years. There’s even NDE support groups. You might be wondering what that has to do with one’s daily life of recovery.

Dr. Eben Alexander, neuroscientist, had experiences during a coma and he has written several books. Before his experience, he believed people lived and died—then nothing. Now, he gives details about his experiences “on the other side,” and the correlation between spirituality and science. Like most NDE survivors, he also spoke about a loving, non-judgmental “life review” that he experienced. It caught my attention when he said that we “re-live events not so much from our own perspective, but from the emotional perspective of those around us who were influenced by our actions and thoughts.”
Wow! He re-lived events from the other person’s perspective. That’s something for us all to ponder.

It also reminds me of working with Alzheimer’s clients. In training, the instructor said the “clients may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel.” The clients were impacted emotionally through the caregivers’ thoughts and actions toward them. This is consistent information with Dr. Alexander’s experience with his life review.

This directly applies to our everyday lives in recovery—whether or not there’s a belief in NDE’s. When you move through your day with those closest to you, co-workers, and those we support in the mental health field, I urge you to consider how you make people feel as they interact with you. How do people feel from being in your presence? Do they feel cared for, heard, valued, or are they left feeling yet another wound to their heart/soul? Ask yourself in any situation throughout your day: what if you were in their situation—how would you want to feel from the interaction?

What kind of ripple effect are each of us leaving in others—right here, right now? What emotional perspective would those influenced by our thoughts and actions toward them have to say about us? How might we do things differently now if we could feel how we make others feel? And, how much more powerful is that effect if we believe that “what we do echoes into eternity“ too!

Cheri Thomas

Cheri works as a Peer Support Specialist for RI in Arizona. She has experienced loss and grief which has led her to write for the masses to bring voice to those in similar situations. Cheri possesses a deep passion to share with, encourage, and inspire others on what she calls the Journey of the Heart.