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March/April 2004 Spirituality
Daily "Soulutions"

by Bernie Siegel, Md

Years ago a patient’s words led me to alter my life. She said, "I feel better when I am in the office with you. But I can’t take you home with me. So I need to know how to live between office visits." I have been helping people to do that for the last twenty five years and learning much in the process. One simple and obvious fact is that if you learn and accept that you are mortal and begin to live your brand and flavor of ice cream, for instance, it is amazing what it does for your health.

However, it is sad to think that you have to wait until a tragedy strikes or a curse descends upon you to find a blessing. Why not learn from the wisdom of the ages and sages who have preceded us, or from dear Mother Nature? A tree bends in the wind or when laden with snow. We can learn to bend and become strong enough to withstand the problems and difficulties life presents us. I think one of the problems is that people have difficulty interpreting myths, fairy tales, parables and dreams which are trying to help guide us through dangerous periods in our lives or help us make the appropriate decisions based upon the wisdom in our hearts rather than our heads.

What feels right is the direction to go in on your life’s journey. That is where your favorite flavor of ice cream lies. I try with my ‘soulutions’ to help people find their way and their life’s rhythm and in a sense save their lives. Rather than become what others want you to be and thus lose your life.

I quote Lucy from the Charlie Brown comic strip who says she doesn’t like to make resolutions. She prefers to keep old regrets. It is sad but true that we prefer our old troubles to the challenges of change. Yet if we see life as a time to rehearse and practice becoming the person we want to be, there is time to learn what I call survival behavior.

Actors‚ immune function and stress hormone levels are all changed by the role they play; enhanced by a comedy and depressed by a tragedy. So what we feel and experience has its effect upon us and we have choices as to how we feel, our attitude and whether we want to act and behave like a survivor.

If one brings love and childlike humor into one’s life it is amazing what can be accomplished but this can be hard if the authority figures (parents, teachers, clergy) in your life have never made you feel worthy. If you grow up hearing, "There’s something wrong with you‚" it is likely you will be led into a self destructive lifestyle in search of what you never received from anyone. But remember it is never too late to re-parent yourself or to find others who will.

The role you play is not who you are. If your answer is: a mother of nine, a doctor, a plumber or whatever, God says, "Come back when you know who you are." Help to define yourself and discover all the multiple personalities that dwell within you. My favorite person is my inner child. He sees the world through a child’s eyes and always focuses on the present moment and the things he sees keep me laughing.

When he is asked to sign in, he writes IN on the paper; please sign here, and he writes ‘HERE’, when he sees a sign ‘WET FLOOR’ that’s what he does (well, maybe not.) But, I think you get the message.

One of the most important things to do is to not grow up but to reclaim your youth by growing down. Who are your best coaches? The children, the elderly and the animals; they know how to live now, ask for help when needed and feel whole no matter what their body is experiencing.

Based on 365 Presecriptions for the Soul: Daily Words for Healing Mind, Body, and Spirit, by Bernie Siegel, M.D., $18.95, Hardcover, Order toll-free: 1-800-972-6657 Ext. 52 or www.newworldlibrary.com