Aashiqui actor Anu Aggarwal recently reflected on her near-fatal car accident in 1999, which left her with multiple fractures, a paralysed body, a disfigured face, and no memory of her past. “My body couldn’t move. I was in a wheelchair. My body was somewhere else, I was somewhere else. After that, my parents tried to take me to Delhi, but the flight was impossible. I had no idea…I was a traveller….all through the modelling time…Paris, New York, London…I had no recollection. I did not even know what Paris was. I was on the bed when one of my aunts came from America…and I was looking at her… What is it? What is America? What is the place?” Aggarwal said.
She shared how doctors got busy the moment she was admitted in the wee hours of the morning. ‘You are Anu Aggarwal….you can’t die… You had lost your breath…we had to pump breath…you were going…all the top doctors cancelled their appointment…to treat me…” she told Pinkvilla, adding that she slipped into a coma that lasted 29 days.
Aggarwal mentioned that she came out of the devastating incident through her staunch belief, which astonished her treating doctors. “There was a tree trunk full of light, and I used to keep looking at it. People kept saying that you are a miracle. Doctors kehte hai mircle…kaise aap theek huyi? (Doctors were astonished at my recovery). Belief that you will. That’s about it. You need to have that belief. The other thing is positivity.”
Recalling her conversation with the treating cardiologist whom she visited in in 2001, she said: “The doctor told me this later that he told my parents that I will die…or if I don’t die, I will be a vegetable case…and die in 2-3 years…there was no hope…I was already kind of dead. The doctor told me when they saw me catwalking after two years…I went to meet the doctors…they couldn’t …they say, yeh kya ho gaya? Of course, joyfully. They were happy. The cardiologist told me that everyone complains…but you made all the problems seek a solution…I am going to heal…”
She mentioned how, despite the physical incapacities, she overcame the problems without complaining, something that her doctors acknowledged. “Muhn tedha hogaya (face was disfigured), paralyse hogaya…gala nahi kaam karta tha (throat wasn’t functional)…one of my collar bones was flat….another was out because of multiple fractures…I was out of shape completely. I couldn’t even see properly. I was not a normal human being. The doctor said…you…it’s your positivity. You never complained.”
She emphasised that maintaining an optimistic outlook, even in adversity, can significantly impact one’s healing journey.
“This mindset not only aids in but also establishes emotional resilience, enabling individuals to overcome challenges with strength and grace,” said Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist, life alchemist, coach and healer, founder and director, Gateway of Healing.
Here’s what we can take back
Building confidence through small wins: A positive mindset lets you focus on achieving small, manageable goals during difficult times. Each small win boosts your confidence and reinforces the belief that bigger challenges can be overcome.
Disrupting negative thought cycle: Instead of getting stuck in negative thought loops, a positive mindset helps you disrupt these cycles by intentionally shifting focus towards problem-solving or action. “This mental reset prevents prolonged emotional turmoil and promotes quicker recovery,” said Dr Tugnait.
Aligning with long-term vision: A positive mindset allows you to prioritise long-term goals over immediate discomfort. “In the face of challenges, instead of seeking quick relief, you’re able to focus on the bigger picture, ensuring that short-term hardships don’t derail your ultimate vision,” said Dr Tugnait.
Sharpening intuition and decision-making: A positive mindset reduces the cloudiness caused by fear and stress, allowing your intuition and instincts to guide you more clearly. With a calm and open mind, you make aligned with your core values, often leading to more sustainable solutions.
Expanding tolerance for uncertainty: Challenges often involve ambiguity and uncertainty. “A positive mindset helps you become more comfortable with not knowing all the answers, allowing you to approach uncertainty with curiosity instead of fear,” said Dr Tugnait.
