Bernie Siegel on the Psychology of Illness and the Art of Healing

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In this engaging 2-part presentation, Dr. Bernie Siegel discusses the power of words, feelings, and love as they relate to our health and wellbeing. Observing that society empowers doctors with a medical authority that most patients accept unquestioningly, he describes how stark prognoses such as “you have six months to live” can become self-fulfilling prophesies. If doctors in fact wield such power of suggestion, why not use it toward positive ends?

Referencing research and personal experience with his patients, Dr. Siegel builds a compelling case for the “physiology of optimism” and its widely observed impact on healing. He suggests that we start our lives with a specific blueprint or path, and firmly believes that psychological and physical troubles are meaningful warnings that we have strayed from that path. From this perspective, illness can be a wonderful catalyst for positive change. If a new, uplifted mindset is achieved, physical recovery can be the side effect of a redeemed life.

In Part 2, Dr. Siegel outlines his four steps for staying healthy: living in the moment; meditating several times a day; joining a support group to share love and confrontation; and (the toughest step) sitting naked in front of a mirror twice a day, to release negative body attitude and instill self-love. He also describes ten surefire steps to illness: eat plenty of junk food and feel guilty about it; cultivate the experience that your life is meaningless; do thinks you don’t like and feel stuck; be resentful and hypercritical; cultivate dreadful mental pictures and obsess about them; avoid intimate relationships; blame others for your problems; don’t express your views openly and honestly; shun humor; and avoid any changes that would bring you satisfaction and joy.

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