Ep 145: That Sucked. Now What? with Dr. Neeta Bhushan
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Ep 145: That Sucked. Now What? with Dr. Neeta Bhushan
Episode 145: Show Notes
Life can be extremely challenging at times, throwing hurdles and obstacles at us that often seem insurmountable. But if you can acknowledge ‘the suck’ and find a way to sit in the discomfort, then you will have a better chance at regaining your joyful spirit! This episode explores themes of domestic violence and dealing with severe loss, please listen with care.
Today’s guest, Dr. Neeta Bhushan, has endured unfathomable loss and hardships to come out the other side better and stronger, whilst helping others realign with their purpose, too.
We hear of her extraordinary upbringing, which saw her lose her mother, father, and brother all before she turned 20 years old. Dr. Neeta explains the immigrant philosophy in which she was raised, how she approaches spirituality, how she dealt with the loss of three family members when she was a teenager, and how those losses nudged her toward a career in medicine.
We also hear about her transformative trip to Rome before our guest opens up about how an abusive marriage affected her, and how saying yes to almost everything after her divorce helped her regain her passion for life.
Turning our attention to Dr. Neeta’s new book, That Sucked, Now What?, our guest defines ‘the suck,’ how we can embrace it, and what it means to be in ‘the thriving stage.’ Finally, the remarkable Dr. Neeta Bhushan tells us how her definition of success has changed over the years, what her relationship with her family is like today, and the wondrous moments she has witnessed as a result of those around her embracing their suck!
Key Points From This Episode:
A warm welcome to today’s incredible guest, Entrepreneur and Author, Dr. Neeta Bhushan.
Why she still leads with her doctor title even though she doesn’t practice cosmetic dentistry anymore.
What she enjoyed the most about growing up as a Filipino-Indian child.
Gaining a deeper understanding of the immigrant philosophy in which she was raised.
Dr. Neeta’s relationship with the spirituality that was portrayed in her childhood home.
The situation surrounding her mother’s cancer diagnosis.
How she embarked on her first entrepreneurial venture at 12 years old.
Her idea of success and what she wanted to be before the string of losses that she experienced.
Why her mid to late teens was the toughest period of her life.
How losing her parents and assuming their debt brought Dr. Neeta closer to medicine.
Why our guest decided to move to Rome albeit against her family’s wishes, and how it changed her.
TW: For listeners wishing to avoid Dr. Neeta’s account of domestic violence, please skip audio between [39:15] and [45:00].
How an abusive marriage almost ruined her otherwise impressive life accomplishments.
What she did to regain her life in the period following her divorce: saying yes!
How her new experiences shifted her mental state and life’s focus.
Unpacking the lessons that can be found in Dr. Neeta’s new book, That Sucked, Now What?
Defining ‘the suck’, acknowledging it, and the benefits that arise from embracing it.
Our guest explains ‘the thriving stage’ as it appears in part three of her book.
What she has witnessed from the people around her embracing their suck.
The relationship that she has with her family now after losing many members along the way.
Dr. Neeta’s new definition of success after everything she’s experienced in life so far.
Whether she misses practicing dentistry.
Tweetables:
“The sentiment growing up was: study hard, no matter what.” — @NeetaBhushan [0:07:48]
“Being 15, I didn't even know what I wanted to be. I knew I loved dancing and I loved gathering people. I was definitely a gatherer from a very young age, for sure. I think maybe that's part of my Dharma in many ways.” — @NeetaBhushan [0:23:11]
“Hurt people, hurt people. It's your quintessential co-dependent relationship, where it's the narcissistic and the co-dependent, perhaps maybe sociopathic.” — @NeetaBhushan [0:42:02]
“If it scares you, then just say yes to it. Just do it.” — @NeetaBhushan [0:48:19]
“Escapism is such a real thing and we're good at it. We're really good at escaping. What I'm asking you to do is to lean into the suck. Lean into that discomfort.” — @NeetaBhushan [0:59:29]
“There's this liberation, there's this freedom that comes from embracing the suck. Because then it's this lightness. It's this levity to literally give grace in the human experience.” — @NeetaBhushan [1:10:32]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: