Carl Simonton - oncologist pioneered mind-body connection to fight cancer

[baro-san]

 

36,406 views Aug 24, 2010

NOTE: This is an excerpt from the full 90-minute DVD. 

Within each patient is a wisdom that can be accessed to facilitate the healing process. In the first part of this two part program Dr. O. Carl Simonton discusses in a very moving way his own personal struggle with the illness and death of his father. He suggests the need to distinguish when it is appropriate to prepare for death and when we should fight to live. He discusses the difference between healthy and unhealthy belief systems. 

In part two of the DVD, Dr. Simonton suggests that no patient should be asked to face this issue before they are willing and ready. Then he leads a guided meditation exercise designed to visualize the dying process. He points out that the purpose of facing death is not to die, but to live more fully. Then he leads another guided meditation exercise designed to access the natural healing wisdom within each of us. The late O. Carl Simonton, M.D., an oncologist, was director of the Simonton Cancer Center. He was a pioneer in the use of mental imagery with cancer patients, and was co-author of Getting Well Again and The Healing Journey.

[baro-san]

Summary of O. Carl Simonton: The Healing Process (excerpt) -- Thinking Allowed DVD w/ Jeffrey Mishlove

This is an AI generated summary. There may be inaccuracies.


00:00:00 - 00:05:00
In this excerpt from "Thinking Allowed," O. Carl Simonton explores the crucial interplay between belief systems and health , particularly during times of confusion regarding life and death. He underscores the societal fear of death and advocates for greater acceptance of it as a means to enhance life's fulfillment. Simonton differentiates between positive thinking and healthy thinking, arguing that the latter should be rooted in facts and existential realities, with a focus on helping individuals develop healthier thought patterns. He additionally addresses the detrimental effects of unhealthy emotions, such as guilt, which are often manipulated in various areas, including parenting and education. By transforming these negative feelings and understanding the beliefs that shape them, Simonton believes individuals can significantly influence their healing processes and overall quality of life.

00:00:00 In this section, Carl Simonton discusses the concept of success in his work, highlighting the importance of supporting individuals in their choices regarding life and death, especially during periods of confusion. He emphasizes the societal tendency to fear death and the need for people to become more comfortable with it, as this acceptance can lead to a more fulfilling life. Simonton differentiates between positive thinking, which can lack grounding in reality, and healthy thinking, which he argues should be based on facts and existential realities. He explains the criteria for healthy beliefs, as taught by researcher Maltby, which include assessing if beliefs are fact-based, protective of health, and aligned with one's goals. Ultimately, he advocates for helping individuals explore healthier thought patterns without prescribing how they should think.
00:05:00 In this section, O. Carl Simonton discusses the significant impact of unhealthy belief patterns and emotional states on an individual's health and quality of life. He emphasizes that feelings of guilt are a prevalent and detrimental issue in society, often used as a motivational tool across various domains, including parenting and education. Simonton highlights the need for individuals to recognize and transform these unhealthy emotions into healthier states, as understanding and addressing one's beliefs can play a crucial role in the healing process. He underscores that while there are multiple factors affecting health, the beliefs we hold about ourselves and our circumstances are pivotal in influencing both illness and recovery.

[Adrian]

Thanks for sharing baro-san.

This again illustrates the mind-body connection as it relates to health. Our natural state is perfection, including health, it is only the mind that can interrupt this perfection through thoughts, feelings, emotions, beliefs etc. No disease can appear in the human body without a corresponding mental equivalent. Healing is to remove the mental patterns giving rise to disease, to restore the inherent perfection of the body as expressed by Source.

[Kodemaster]

I do agree with the mind-body connection. The chemicals in mental health are often involved with physical conditions, hence the overlap. My hope is that Western medical providers try to incorporate Eastern medicine more often. The specialty clinic I go to for my brain disease does all that.