Episode 45 – Mathew McHugh: How you can be happy even if terrible things happen.[PODCAST

Many of us feel that if we just had _________ or could only do __________, then we’d be happy. But the reality is, you will only be happy if you choose to be happy. Today’s guest is a great example of how that’s true. Mathew McHugh lost his leg in a paraglider accident near his home in Australia when something went wrong in the atmosphere around his shoot and he plummeted into the cliff face. But he says he’s happier now than he was before, even though he’s missing one of his legs. How is that possible? You’ll have to hear Mathew’s explanation of it in this great conversation with our host, David T.S. Wood.

What happens in your soul when you know life is about to slip away?

Questions like that could be seen as morbid, but not for Mathew McHugh. He faced death head on and stayed around to tell us about it, and that experience changed his whole world. In today’s episode David gets deep into the events of that fateful day when Mathew’s paraglider unexplainably dove into the cliff face and he hung by the ropes of his chute from a bush sticking out of the rock face. With one artery cut and bleeding he knew he was going to die. For the next 2 ½ hours he pondered death, life, and many things in between. Hear his incredible story on this episode of Crank It Up.

The dance between preparing to die and fighting to live.

As Mathew McHugh hung from a cliff face after a paraglider accident he knew he was bleeding too profusely to live. Yet, he didn’t want to give up. Wisdom told him that he should prepare himself for death while something else inside him clung to life and struggled to survive. That’s an amazing place to be and in today’s podcast you’re going to hear Mathew explain what it was like and share the many lessons he learned as a result of that experience. Sit back and enjoy this great conversation.

When I was hanging there, dying, my only thought was love.

Mathew McHugh’s paraglider accident left him clinging to life and as you might imagine, many things went through his head. As he began to notice the type of things that entered his mind during those moments between life and death, he received a moment of clarity. His main concerns were about the love he’d given and the love he’d received. He didn’t care about his house or car, he didn’t think about the achievements he’d accomplished. His only concern was love. Hear how that thought turned into a motivation to live and how he’s overcome the odds, on this episode of Crank It Up.

Mathew McHugh would like you to have a free copy of his book.

You can read the account of Mathew’s experience in a short book he’s compiled. It covers the actual events surrounding his accident as well as many other pictures and resources to help flesh out his story and the lessons he’s learned. If you’d like to receive a free download of this book, all you have to do is check out the resources on this episode’s show notes page and download the book. It’s that simple.

Outline of this great episode

[0:48] Introduction to today’s show and our guest Mathew McHugh.

[5:43] Why Mathew’s happier now than he was before he lost his leg.

[8:55] How Mathew lost his leg and the circumstances leading up to it.

[15:51] Mathew’s memories of the accident and the things he was thinking and feeling as he hung on the edge of a cliff.

[18:13] The fight between preparing to die and the fight to stay alive.

[21:24] Mathew’s response to those who hear his story.

[24:56] The mission Mathew believes he’s been given through his accident.

[25:56] How the circumstance has caused Mathew to feel about God.

[30:18] Responses to Mathew’s story from the medical community.

[32:22] David’s similar experiences to Mathew.

[33:10] The lessons Mathew has learned and the choices he’s making.

[38:30] What Mathew wants to leave with people who hear his story.

[43:52] Why people like Mathew are needed in th...