Have you ever had a moment where you felt all of your life experiences led you to this moment? An instant where you knew so deeply down to the very core of your being that you were exactly where you were meant to be, doing exactly what you were meant to do?
In the past two weeks of facilitating these daily Coronavirus miracles healing zoom circles, I have been feeling this sense growing within me but it became crystal clear to me today during our session. And this clarity and gratitude felt so powerful that I began to cry. Yes, I felt so safe to be so vulnerable with a group of about 23 other mighty companions from all over the world.
Allow me to share what transpired today in our joining.
Today’s zoom circle was dedicated to sharing about an article I wrote that just was published in an online physician’s magazine. It is amazing to me how timely the article is for what we are facing today.
As you may be aware, this past week (March 25th to 31st) was National Physician’s Week to honor the healers dedicated to the art of medicine.
Yesterday I was watching the news about an ER physician, Dr. Colleen Smith,1 who is working at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, NYC – the same hospital where I did the majority of my clinical training as a medical student. Dr. Smith was expressing her frustration, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed with caring for patients with Coronavirus. At one point, she is choking back her tears.
Wow.
Physicians in general, and ER physicians in particular, do not usually show their emotions so publicly. Even when they work at Elmhurst hospital, a Level 1 Trauma center which now is the epicenter of Coronavirus in NYC. To watch her take down the persona of the tough ER physician who is trained to handle anything, and expose her feeling so vulnerable and afraid- was so very moving for me.
‘Today is kinda getting worse and worse, we had to get a refrigerated truck to store the bodies of patients who are dying,’ Smith said.
‘I want people to know that this is bad, people are dying, we don’t have the tools that we need to take care of them. It’s really hard.’ Smith was of course referring to the shortage of protective equipment such as gloves and masks, as well as Covid testing kits along with ventilators.
‘It’s America. We’re supposed to be a first-world country,’ she added.
As I listened to Dr. Smith share her experiences, I immediately could feel a wave of love and compassion for her and many others like her facing similar challenges. A wordless prayer formed in my heart and if I could put words to it, then it would be something like this:
How can I be truly helpful? What is my way to serve here? How can I join with Dr. Smith in healing?
I love how when we pray with a sincere desire, the answer seems to come so quickly. In my experience, when I walk with Spirit ( or Love), the solutions are given as the problem arises. I am learning that the problem is always one of perception. And the healing is the miracle inside the mind that allows for a new way to relate to my experience. Then the so-called problem becomes an opportunity for me to reach deeper inside my mind and heart to connect with love, peace, and joy.
The next morning when I awoke and spent time in stillness, prayer, and meditation, I felt such gratitude. My heart felt like it was bursting with joy. I then took a look at my cell phone and found a text from the editor of Physician Outlook magazine informing me that an article I wrote about two months ago went live both on their online site as well as the print publication. I was amazed at how the article was the perfect answer to my prayer of how I could be helpful, serve, and join with Dr. Smith and my medical colleagues everywhere.
What was this article about that is so timely for what we are facing today?
The article is titled An Introduction to Physician, Heal Thyself: A Doctor’s Journey from Medicine to Miracles and in the article, I share about my book of the same name.
So, sometime back in January of this year, I had been asked to write about my book, Physician, Heal Thyself: A Doctor’s Journey from Medicine to Miracles ( A mindful approach to healing based on teachings of A Course in Miracles).
Here is an excerpt from the article:
When I entered an accelerated medical program right out of high school, I was just 17 years old. I felt this burning desire to marry the science of biomedicine with the spirit of true service. Medicine was a calling that I had to answer. There was simply no other choice.
Did you feel this way too when you chose to become a doctor? Do you still feel this passion for medicine today that you felt as a young medical student? Or perhaps now, many years or even decades later, do you feel disillusioned, perhaps disenfranchised, and maybe even disgusted with the state of medical practice? With the rise in physician burnout and many physicians choosing to leave medicine all together, many of us might be questioning our initial choice to become a doctor.
…
My friend, Dr. Marlene Wust-Smith, who asked me to write this article, felt inspired to start Physician Outlook because she feels a strong desire to create a safe space where we can each find our answers to these questions. I believe at some level all of us as physicians seek to answer such questions using the framework that resonates most for us. We might feel drawn to lobby for changes in the sociopolitical aspects influencing access to health care. Or we believe strongly that fundamental shifts are required in medical student education, associated costs, student loans, and debt. Perhaps we are adamant that cutting medical expenses at the risk of delivering substandard health care simply cannot be a viable option.
Through my book, Physician, Heal Thyself: A Doctor’s Journey from Medicine to Miracles, I share the answers I have discovered. But my book is not about sweeping health care reforms or external ways to dramatically change anything about our health care landscape. Rather, my book is a clear, systematic roadmap for the inward journey that I believe we are all being called to take so that the broken health care system that we try so desperately to fix with all sort of Band-Aid approaches can be healed – but from the inside out. I wrote my book because I felt inspired to share this profound message with all those who feel ready for a radically new way to see themselves, their patients, and their role in medicine and healing.
What is Coaching for Inner Peace?
This radical new way of seeing everything and everyone is shared in what I call Coaching for Inner peace.
Here is another excerpt from the article:
Coaching for Inner Peace is rooted in science, specifically in cutting edge research in quantum physics, the stress response, the placebo effect, and neuroplasticity. I also draw from the teachings of world spiritual traditions with the aim to share simple yet profound tools and practices for healing; these include mindfulness, prayer, meditation, chanting, listening to the still small voice within our hearts, choosing love over fear, forgiveness, gratitude, being clear about our purpose, connecting with our desire for healing and peace, and joining with our mighty companions.
My goal is that we experience consistent joy and peace, which I firmly believe is our birthright. It is from this space that all healing emanates. I invite you to open to an inward journey to inner peace and stable joy while you negotiate whatever challenge you face. Perhaps you can share this approach with your patients, and this can grow to include your family and community. Maybe this will be something that expands to include our larger society along with our health care system.
But for now, the most important task you can do is to heal yourself. Amazingly, this is the most profound gift you can give to others as well.
To read the full article, please click here.
If you want to explore my book, click here where you can read a free preview with option to purchase either Kindle version or good old-fashioned paperback.
What made me get so emotional today
My parents join me from Queens, NY for these calls almost daily. They are in their late 70s and early 80s. I miss them every day and pray that they stay well and healthy. Today, when I came out of leading the meditation, I saw my Papa on the screen sitting with my Mom. I felt so emotional that tears came to me as I felt a wave of gratitude for them being with me all during these years as I slowly have come to fulfilling my purpose. What a blessing to be their daughter! What an amazing opportunity we have shared together to fulfill this dream of my becoming a physician for inner peace.
To hear the full audio recording for today’s zoom session from today, click here.
To listen to the guided meditation, please click here.
How does this connect to Dr. Colleen Smith and my other colleagues working on the frontlines
During this unprecedented time when we don’t really have any past experience nor can we really plan for any future outcomes, we are each called to step into the function that gives us joy, and allows us to be instruments for healing. When we heal, we don’t heal alone. For me, I feel more empowered, more determined, and more confident in the message I am to share with Coaching for Inner Peace. This whole experience with the Coronavirus has provided me with a portal through which I can step into greater self-realization. My prayer is that you each may use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve as a catalyst for your growth and expansion.
Zoom group details
Please join tomorrow at 11am EST via zoom if you feel inspired!
We will continue to go deeper into these profound topics that truly help us face our fears and worries about Coronavirus with support, love, and inner wisdom.
Time: 11am to 12:30PM EST
You can join via this link: https://zoom.us/j/8433334653
Meeting ID: 843 333 4653
(If you prefer to join via phone, please email me, and I can send you more details how you can do that.)
Here are the dates we will meet: April 1,2, and 3 ( Wed/Thurs/Friday this week); April 6,7,8 and 9 ( Monday- Thursday next week)
If you cannot attend, these sessions will be recorded.
How to support this work with your donation and sharing with others
These sessions and recordings are offered freely and if you feel inspired to donate to this important healing mission, please donate here. Your donation freely given is so appreciated and supports me to continue to spread this message of hope, healing, and comfort. For those of you who have donated, thank you so much! Your donation is the energy of love that continues to nurture this healing work.
Also, please share this email and post on social media as you feel inspired so we can grow the circle of those who feel willing to use this very challenging time as a powerful substrate to fuel healing, regeneration, renewal and miracles on micro and macro levels.
