It's not about curing the disease, but healing the life; then the physical benefits come.
Bernie SiegelRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Unconditional love boosts the immune system and promotes healing.
In this quote, Bernie Siegel emphasizes the transformative power of love, suggesting that when individuals engage in unconditional love towards themselves and others, it can lead to significant health benefits, particularly in terms of strengthening their immune response. Siegel argues that unlike physical medications that require specific instructions, the practice of love is inherently beneficial and healing, connecting emotional well-being to physical health.
Themes
Unconditional LoveImmune SystemHealingSelf-LoveWell-Being
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about health and wellness.
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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