Petra Nemcova, a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model, published a book, Love Always Petra, recounting how she was heroically rescued during the Thailand tsunami that took place on December 26, 2004.
This is one of the most inspirational stories I have heard because her reaction to nearly losing her life during the tsunami inspires me to think and act from a state of peace, strength and love — even when life is giving me difficult circumstances that I don’t understand.
On December 25, Petra and her boyfriend, Simon Atlee, celebrated Christmas together at a resort in Phuket, Thailand. They talked about their future together and possibly having kids someday. The next morning, she was packing in her hotel room when the first wave hit.
The wave came through the balcony of her hotel room and she grasped onto the roof. That was the last time she saw her boyfriend, Simon.
Trash and debris hit her, breaking her pelvis in four places. Then the current released her from the roof and she grabbed onto a tree. She was not able to hold onto the first tree because of the current’s ferocious power. The power and force of the fierce waves tore off all of her clothes. However, she did grab a second tree. She was left clinging for dear life onto that palm tree for eight hours, naked, with a shattered pelvis and no feeling in her legs. Eventually, she was rescued by the Thai natives and now has healed nearly all of her injuries.
Arrival of the second wave in Phuket, Thailand, during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
A few years ago when she was on Larry King, he asked her what was going through her mind while she was clinging to the palm tree. There was pure grace and gratitude in her voice when answered,
“… it was actually, in some way, it was really peaceful. I wasn’t afraid. I was very – the whole time through, I was very calm and focused. And I was making lots of prayers and sending energy to people and thinking of Simon and all the people there… I never lose faith, even when there was a moment when I stopped fighting, stopped kicking. I was very peaceful… I accepted it, and it was actually beautiful. And I didn’t have a fear.”
I heard her interview with Larry King at the perfect time in my life. It was during my final exams while I was attending law school. After I heard her speak, my initial reaction was complete awe and amazement and I knew I had to attempt to adopt a more peaceful attitude when I was faced with stressful situations.
Then, I began to ponder her serene and graceful reaction. She found peace and beauty in the midst of such a terrible tragedy. This observation led me to question and develop a much greater understanding and curiosity for the notion that ones thoughts influence how one experiences reality.
I still do not fully understand exactly what it means that your thoughts can affect your reality. Does it mean that our objective reality is actually entirely subjective because it is determined by our thoughts? Does it mean that our thoughts have the power to influence our reality by attracting circumstances, events, and people into our life that are aligned with the vibration of our current thoughts? Or, can a thought simply shift the way we interpret a situation which leads to a more resilient, benign and helpful outlook on life? I am not sure and would love to hear your thoughts on this too.
But, it does appears that Petra was able to use her thoughts to influence her reality. For example, by focusing her thoughts on sending love, prayers, and energy to Simon and other people her reality became filled with service, tranquility, and beauty in the midst of a tsunami.
Additionally, was she able to use her thoughts to help attract a Thai native to heroically rescue her and then use her thoughts to help her heal nearly all of her injuries?
Finally, if your thoughts do affect your reality, what is the most powerful thought to think in order to create the most fulfilling, meaningful, and joyful reality for yourself? It is my belief that the most powerful thought I can think is a “thought of God” – a thought filled with reason, authenticity, compassion, strength, integrity or love.
So, what is your take away from this? Please leave a comment here or email me and let me know how you will use this information to make a difference in your life.
Peace,
Dr. Matthew Welsh
Founder of Spiritual Media Blog
Photo Credits
Petra Nemcova by Georges Biard – Wikimedia Creative Commons
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami – Wikimedia Creative Commons
Guest Author Bio
Matthew Welsh
Dr. Matthew Welsh J.D., Ph.D. is the founder of Spiritual Media Blog. After graduating from law school Dr. Welsh created Spiritual Media Blog to be a source of inspirational content, media, and entertainment. He began his career in Hollywood working for an entertainment agency, the William Morris Agency, and then as a trial lawyer for the Department of Child Services in Indiana. He realized that he was not happy working as a lawyer. So, he quit his job as a lawyer to pursue his calling to become a psychologist and obtained his PhD in Psychology. He now works as a full-time psychologist. Spiritual Media Blog is a creative outlet for his passions related to psychology, spirituality, and inspirational entertainment. His hope for Spiritual Media Blog is that it provides you with content that is practical, inspirational, and entertaining.
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