Dr. Bernie S. Siegel - 365 Prescriptions for the Soul: Daily Messages of Inspiration, Hope, and Love

N EW W ORLD L IBRARY
N OVATO , C ALIFORNIA

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I wrote 365 Prescriptions for the Soul to provide the reader with a daily guide and resource for navigating the troubled waters I and challenges of life. This book is an accumulation of my life experiences and the knowledge Ive gleaned from studying the wisdom of the sages. My most significant insights have been gained through my work with patients diagnosed with life-threatening or disabling illnesses. Their wisdom and teachings have profoundly changed my life for the better, and I hope they will do the same for you.

The prescriptions contained in this book are bite-sized bits of wisdom presented in a manner that is accessible and fits easily into our busy lives. Each daily entry guides you peacefully, lovingly, and consciously through lifes challenges, preparing you for whatever may come your way. In todays mechanized, technology-based society, we are often informed but rarely truly educated. We absorb an enormous amount of information from the various media television, radio, newspapers, and the Internet but does any of this information truly prepare or inspire us? Everybody faces obstacles in life; those who succeed in getting past them learn something in the process. I can still hear my father telling me that one of the best things that happened to him, when he was twelve, was his father dying. It taught him what was important about life and to be kind to other people. Sometimes it takes a disaster to wake us up and make us realize the blessings we have.

Ernest Hemingway said, The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some become strong at the broken places. As a physician I can tell you that Hemingway was right about bone fractures. But why wait until we break down or fall apart to learn this truth in our spiritual and emotional lives? Why not acquire the tools and insights to prevent fracturing under trying conditions by becoming strong enough to deal with life and learning how to bend?

Too often it takes a direct confrontation with ones mortality to learn the value of the limited time we all have on earth. Many of us believe that time is money. Time isnt money; time is everything. The way we spend our time is what our life is all about. If we spend our time paying attention to the wisdom of our heart rather than the wisdom of our head, we will benefit greatly.

So why not follow this doctors orders? My prescription for you is to use this book as part of your daily ritual. Take the time to read a selection and reflect on its meaning for you. Allow it to make a difference in your day, and help heal your life and the lives of those you touch. May this book guide you to a place where your heart will find true peace.

THE SYMBOL RX means dispense as written. Sometimes a prescription can be very helpful. But information alone does not lead one to change unless it is combined with inspiration.

You will not fill a prescription or let it help you, unless you choose to follow its directions. The prescriptions I ask you to fill are designed for your total well-being. They come from hard-earned wisdom and experience with the difficulties of life. They will help you to develop healthy self-love, self-esteem, and self-worth and to heal the wounds of the past. My hope is they will help you to find true meaning in your life.

If you are in a great deal of pain or acutely ill you may want to take one Q4HPRN, meaning every four hours as necessary. You may also try different prescriptions to find what works best for you. You cannot overdose during difficult times, and there are no adverse side effects. However, when stable, I suggest using the Rx TID or QID, which means three or four times a day so that you restore yourself and give your body a live message throughout the day and at bedtime.

You will feel and sleep better if you fill your prescriptions and use them regularly.

Peace,
Bernie S. Siegel, MD