Episode 43: The Journey is more About my Death than it is about the Cancer

Guest: Rishma Dhalla

Her cancer diagnosis necessitated her to come to terms with facing death and mortality. Rishma elaborates on how her cancer journey ran deeper than just the physical toll, preparation, or adjustment during and after treatments. She gave herself an opportunity to turn inward, connected to herself and did some soul-searching. She identifies with some prominent thoughts that played on her mind in the early stage of her journey and her positioning to get curious, leading up to her own conclusions about death and dying. Rishma shared, in addition to physical pain she endured, she tapped into a deeper meaning of her hair loss experience and feeling as though she had lost parts of her identity. She delves into details about the exhaustion she experienced; worry thoughts as she wondered what life might look like; what would happen if she didn’t make it; time spent facing her truths; planning for potential outcomes and worrying about her children and husband. Today, she explains that she doesn’t have constant thoughts about the cancer, though in full awareness acknowledges how it has completely changed her life as she lives each day to the fullest. Her key message to the listeners is that: don’t be afraid to die that you don’t allow yourself to live; indulge in life; and if you do fear death — get curious as to what is getting in the way.

 

Guest Bio: Rishma is a 50-year-old married mother of two adult sons, and, like many 50-year-olds, she has lived her half century full of ups and downs. She has worked as an Occupational Therapist for over 28 years, and in the year 2020, Rishma decided to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. She has since started her own business called OT4Life and has been supporting clients through their rehabilitation and recovery process, encompassing all facets of an individual’s needs from the standpoint of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual lenses. Rishma is also a cancer survivor and has begun her journey share her story of her personal struggles as it relates to mental health as she is inspired to empower others to share their stories.

Rishma also provides workshops on stress management and has her very own YouTube channel where she posts videos about stress management.

 

Passionate about:  

Rishma provides workshops on stress management, in addition to her very own YouTube channel where videos are posted about stress management.

YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChjWCtlEFTDwRb_Z-MeeWrw