It's not about curing the disease, but healing the life; then the physical benefits come.
Bernie SiegelRead
Getting well is not the only goal. Even more important is learning to live without fear, to be at peace with life and ultimately death.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear and finding peace in life and death beyond merely recovering from illness.
Bernie Siegel's quote suggests that true healing extends beyond physical wellness; it encompasses a deeper understanding of life and death. Learning to live without fear allows one to embrace life's uncertainties and inevitabilities, fostering a sense of peace that transcends the mere act of getting well. Ultimately, this perspective encourages individuals to face their mortality with acceptance rather than dread.
Themes
FearPeaceLifeDeathHealing
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming challenges, one might reference this quote to inspire others to confront their fears.
More from Bernie Siegel
All quotes →Diseases can be our spiritual flat tires - disruptions in our lives that seem to be disasters at the time but end by redirecting our lives in a meaningful way.
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It is astounding how much the immune system is strengthened by reducing daily mental stress levels with either visualization or meditation. The other great tonic for the immune system is love—loving ourselves as well as others.
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I truly feel the best doctors are ones who are criticized by nurses, patients and family. They do not make excuses and learn from their mistakes.
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Part of my evolution has been to learn how painful most people's childhoods are. They grow up not liking themselves, not loving themselves. Ask people if they were lovable the minute they were born, and watch them sit back and have to think about it. One lady said, 'I suppose so.' That's painful.
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Being a survivor doesn't mean being strong - it's telling people when you need a meal or a ride, company, whatever. It's paying attention to heart wisdom, feelings, not living a role, but having a unique, authentic life, having something to contribute, finding time to love and laugh. All these things are qualities of survivors.
Bernie SiegelRead
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