Arjun Chhabra: The Mind's Role in True Healing #0047

In this episode, I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with Arjun Chhabra, whose journey I've come to call 'From Heartbreak in India to Healing in Spain.' I first connected with Arjun after seeing one of his Reddit posts, drawn in by the raw honesty of his story, and quickly realized he was a perfect fit for Whereabouts Tales, embodying the very spirit of transformation.

Arjun shares the profoundly personal story of his mother's battle with breast cancer and her tragic passing in 2013 [1:21, 2:40]. This devastating loss plunged him into depression, leading to significant weight gain and a complete loss of direction. I truly felt his pain as he recounted those difficult months of helplessness, searching for answers and finding none.

He then opens up about his upbringing in bustling Mumbai, challenging the stereotypes of India we often see. We delve into his unique experience with an arranged marriage [18:38, 20:26], a process that for him, involved surprising honesty and self-discovery.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn as Arjun recounts his and his wife’s brave decision to sell everything and move to Spain in late 2019 [32:16], only to be met by the global pandemic [33:32]. This unforeseen challenge forced a major pivot from their organic clothing brand to a deep dive into wellness, reinvesting everything into studying functional medicine and herbalism. I was captivated by their resilience and adaptability.

Arjun is now a Mind Expansion Coach, and his insights into the mind-body connection are truly transformative. He explains how our state of mind dictates our well-being [1:09:31], the importance of living in the present moment, and how trauma—even daily stress—can manifest physically. I found his distinction between easy and hard choices, and the long-term impact on our lives, particularly powerful.

My key takeaway from our chat is Arjun's profound belief that healing comes from within, through acceptance and an alignment with our true purpose. It's about letting go of emotional baggage and connecting with our higher selves [1:18:05]. He’s dedicated to making wellness accessible through an upcoming online resource library, a book, and even a wellness center in Spain [1:18:41, 1:21:25, 1:25:11]. This conversation is a testament to resilience, purpose, and the incredible power of self-healing. Tune in for a truly inspiring and thought-provoking listen!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:17 Arjun's Journey: From India to Spain

04:06 The Impact of Personal Loss

07:18 Growing Up in India: Cultural Insights

10:29 Education and Class Systems in India

13:29 The Journey to Self-Discovery

16:23 The Illusion of Happiness

18:54 Family Support and Personal Growth

19:02 Arranged Marriages: A Cultural Perspective

24:44 The Journey of Arranged Marriage

27:59 Transitioning to Entrepreneurship

31:08 Exploring Health and Wellness

33:26 Relocating to Spain: Challenges and Adaptations

41:44 Cultural Shifts and Culinary Experiences

48:37 Mind Expansion and Self-Healing

01:03:43 Understanding Individual Health Solutions

01:08:43 The Role of Inflammation in Healing

01:11:14 Mindset and Trauma's Impact on Health

01:15:24 Spirituality and Healing Perspectives

01:20:03 Creating Accessible Wellness Resources

01:22:42 The Journey of Writing a Wellness Book

01:26:20 Future Plans for a Wellness Center

01:28:23 The Importance of Purpose Over Profit

01:30:16 Rapid Fire Insights and Reflections

01:37:37 OUTRO