Kevin Hart’s “resurrection” in the wake of his nearly-fatal car accident

Nothing in this world can give your perspective a complete overhaul the way a near-death experience can. Months after a dangerous car crash almost took his life or left him completely paralyzed, Kevin Hart is opening up about how the experience changed him.

The comedian and actor is featured on the cover of Men’s Health magazine’s March issue. In the cover interview, he talks about the accident that left him with a serious spine injury. His physician revealed to him that the fractures on his spine would have paralyzed his body if they had been located a quarter of a centimeter in one direction.

“I’m not trying to get back to where I was before — I want to be better than before,” he said describing the experience as “a resurrection.”

He continued, “I feel like the other version of myself died in that moment and this new version was born to understand and to do better.”

And by doing better, Hart meant being able to realize what truly matters in his life. The 40-year-old noted that his focus went to his wife, brother, kids, and friends in the wake of the accident. “What matters are relationships,” he says, after ruling out fame, money, “jewelry, cars, or watches”

Now, Hart is striving to work as hard on his family as he does in his career. Hart admits that prior to this realization, most of his time and energy was poured into his work.

“That hustle is not going anywhere, but I want it suppressed and balanced so I can put the same kind of energy into my family,” he concludes.