Bernie Siegel: God wants us to know that life is a series of beginning...

I am convinced that unconditional love is the most powerful known stimulant of the immune system. If I told patients to raise their blood levels of immune globulins or killer T cells, no one would know how. But if I can teach them to love themselves and others fully, the same changes happen automatically. The truth is: love heals.

Bernie Siegel

change truth love

Be grateful simply for being alive. When you are grateful for life, pure and simple, your life becomes one you can be grateful for. That may strike you as circular or even backward logic, but your attitude really does have an effect on how things work out. When you can't change your life any other way, you can still change your attitude. When you do, your life changes. You find more chances to love, and you will be surprised to see how much more love is returned to you.

Bernie Siegel

life-changing thanksgiving attitude

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.

Bernie Siegel

adversity spiritual meaningful

I believe that we are here to contribute love to the planet - each of us in our own way

Bernie Siegel

i-believe believe way

One's attitude towards oneself is the single most important factor in healing and staying well.

Bernie Siegel

important healing attitude

If you watch how nature deals with adversity, continually renewing itself, you can't help but learn.

Bernie Siegel

adversity encouragement nature

You cannot fail at being yourself. A cat doesn't try to be a tiger, and you shouldn't try to be something you aren't. You are a process, not a product. Your job is to discover what you are and create that creature. You still won't be perfect, but success isn't about perfection-it is about authenticity. You are a success if you are being your real, authentic self.

Bernie Siegel

being-yourself success jobs

Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation.

Bernie Siegel

self challenges opportunity

When you embrace the mystery and open yourself to it, a new life is created, resistant to the old problems. You will notice at times that the new life isn't what you asked for. But asking for specific items or for particular events to occur isn't how I define prayer. I cannot guarantee that the orders you place with God will always be filled. Prayer is not a test of God, but a call for help to find your inner strength and talent.

Bernie Siegel

guarantees-that prayer order

You can't control the world, but when you control your thoughts, you bring order.

Bernie Siegel

order world

Compliments are the helium that fills everyone's balloon; they elevate the person receiving them so he or she can fly over life's troubles and land safely on the other side.

Bernie Siegel

receiving land positive

Do not be afraid to love. Remember dear old Don Quixote, viewing the world with love. He saw many beautiful things no one else saw. Try being dear Don Quixote for a day. You'll see that love improves your vision and allows you to see more than your eye has ever seen before. But be forewarned: Those who look on the world with love will need a handkerchief, not to use as a blindfold, but to blow their nose and dry their tears.

Bernie Siegel

eye beautiful love

I love how Mother Theresa said she wouldn't attend an anti-war rally but if there was a peace rally to call her. So I realized it's not about waging a war against everybody's disease and diagnosis but rather about helping them live.

Bernie Siegel

disease mother war

Love is giving with no expectations...Love cures, heals, and rewards two people: the lover and the beloved.

Bernie Siegel

love two people

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 Siegel

strong heart mean

As one woman told me, "When I decided to come in to work happy, everybody around me became happy." This woman had decided to quit a job she hated, and on the last day of her two weeks' notice, she woke up happy. At the end of the day, she noticed that everybody around her was happy, too- so she didn't quit after all. She decided to come to work happy instead. Two years later, she's still on the job, radiating happiness and love.

Bernie Siegel

work jobs years

Bobby and I were married in 1954 and by now we know that anger does not mean "I don't love you" or "I want a divorce." It means, "I am wounded and in need of love, and I feel safe telling you about it because you are my family." Sometimes our behavior with each other is no different from the cry of an unattended baby.

Bernie Siegel

anger love-you baby

Act as if you are the person you want to be.

Bernie Siegel

self-concept persons want

Love releases incredible energy that promotes the biochemistry of healing.

Bernie Siegel

incredibles energy healing

Your body loves you, but if you do not love your life, it will end it far sooner, thinking it is doing you a favor.

Bernie Siegel

doing-you love-you thinking

God wants us to know that life is a series of beginnings not endings. Just as graduations are not terminations but commencements. Creation is an ongoing process and when we create a perfect world where love and compassion are shared by all suffering will cease.