Morning Motivation: Bernie Siegel and Healing

Retired surgeon Dr. Bernie Siegel was one of my idols when I was studying the mind-body connection as an undergraduate at UMASS. For decades, he has focused on treating cancer patients as full human beings, helping them to heal mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, as well as physically. Bernie Siegel has just come out with a new book in the past month with inspirational stories of survivors and the power of the mind in healing. You can click here to read more about it: Faith, Hope, and Healing. If you are dealing with a medical problem or a medical scare today, here are some quotes from Bernie Siegel to help you re-center on faith, hope, and healing:

• “It doesn't matter if it's myths, fairy tales, or your own life. Everyone has to start in the darkest part of the forest…what hurts and what stirs you up—whether it's love, pain, or despair. These are the things that change people.”
• “No, I wouldn't teach about prevention. I would teach about self-esteem and self-love. I would help parents with parenting, so that children grow up feeling loved. I would help with education so that it would really be education—so that children learn about themselves, about self-esteem and self-worth. This is what would help people get more interested in living and taking care of themselves.”
• “Be realistic and forgiving with yourself. The best resolution is to accept your limitations and start from there. Resolve not to give up on yourself, and to love yourself, even when you don’t like your behavior.”
• “Every day is my best day; this is my life; I'm not going to have this moment again.”
• “To be alive is the greatest gift one can receive. Life, with its mystery, joy, love, pain, difficulties, and opportunities. I bless them all as I bless the wonder of our existence and I bless all who use the gift of life to increase the quality of love and healing we all require to survive. Peace.”

May you know your inestimable worth today as you fully live every precious moment! To read other motivational and inspirational thoughts throughout the day, follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/DrDebBrown