The Art of Healing by Bernie S. Siegel, MD

I just finished reading this amazing book! If you are sick, you know someone who is sick or have ever known someone who was sick, or really, if you just know someone, I would highly recommend this book. As the title indicates, there is an art to healing, and Dr. Siegel does a great job of explaining how art work created by patients and family members helped him heal their dis-ease. The book describes so much more, though. There were several things in this book that stood out to me, and one of my favorite things is that at the end of each chapter, he gives a Doctor's Rx, which is some type of homework or question to really get you thinking about how  you can live a healthier, happier life. Toward the end of the book, the Doctor's Rx is to "take the Immune-Competent Personality Test, based on Dr. George Solomon's research". It goes on to list the following questions (and I'm taking this directly out of the book, along with the answers):

1. Do I have a sense of meaning in my work, daily activities, family and relationships?
2. Am I able to express anger appropriately in defense of myself?
3. Am I able to ask friends and family for support when I am feeling lonely or troubled?
4. Am I able to ask friends and family for favors when I need them?
5. Am I able to say no to someone who asks for a favor if I can't do it or don't feel like doing it?
6. Do I engage in health-related behaviors based on my own self-defined needs instead of someone else's prescriptions or ideas?
7. Do I have enough play in my life?
8. Do I find myself depressed for long periods, during which time I feel hopeless about ever changing the conditions that cause me to be depressed?
9. Am I dutifully filling a prescribed role in my life to the detriment of my own needs?

ANSWERS:
If you answered yes to questions 1 through 7 and no to questions 8 and 9, you have an immune-competent personality that helps you to stay healthy, to overcome disease, and face challenges when they happen.  If you answered no to the first seven questions and yes to the last two, you need to pay attention to your behavior and rebirth yourself. I even recommend choosing a new name for this new you.

And my favorite part - Siegel went on to add three more questions to this test:

1. I am taking you to dinner.  Where do you want to go?
First response - Rome, Italy. That was the best food I've ever had, y'all! I have such beautiful memories from that city, and a lot of them involve food.  :)

2. What would you hold up before an audience to demonstrate the beauty and meaning of life?
I would hold up a flower. I mean how amazing is it that we get to witness the full life and beauty of a flower every spring?

3. How would you introduce yourself to God?
I'm Emily Rose. Here I am in all of my glorious imperfection. Love me!

Those are my responses to those last three, and here are the responses that Siegel gave in the book:

1. Your response should relate to your feelings, not what it costs or the food preferences of the other person. Be willing to accept the gift without responding to their question, "What do you want?"
2. A mirror.
3. By responding, "It's you" or "Your child is here." The best answer God ever heard from a high school student was "Tell God his replacement is here."

You can find an online version of this test at http://berniesiegelmd.com/resources/organizations-websites/immune-competent-personality-test/

So, as I read through the original questions, I was reminded once again that I'm on the right path. I would have answered "no" to the majority of the first seven questions about five years ago. While my answer may be a little closer to "most days" than to "yes" right now, I'm happy with the progress I've made. I'm becoming more established in a career that gives me meaning and purpose in my life and allows me to help people heal every time I teach a class. I am forming meaningful relationships with people I interact with. I have found volunteer activities at the Center for Spiritual Living Nashville that allow me to help the youth in that community. I pray that every encounter I have with another human leaves them feeling happy and full, and I hope that this blog has an impact on just one person - you?!? - and leaves you thinking about how you can change just one of those "no" responses to a "yes".

Much love,
Emily Rose