Find Peace Amid the Storm of Serious Illness
How can we embrace tenderness and self-compassion when we or those we love face serious illness? Susan Bauer-Wu, author of Leaves Falling Gently, shares how existential health challenges can be catalysts for growth, resilience, and becoming more human.
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Susan Bauer-Wu
Susan Bauer-Wu is an organizational leader, clinical scientist, and mindfulness teacher, who has held leadership and academic roles in nonprofits, universities, and health care. From 2015 to 2023 she served as President of the Mind & Life Institute, an organization co-founded by the Dalai Lama to bring science and contemplative wisdom together to better understand the mind, foster dialogue, and create positive change in the world. With a foundation as a registered nurse working in oncology and palliative care, PhD and post-doctoral training in psychoneuroimmunology, psycho-oncology and behavioral medicine, and long-time teaching of mindfulness-based stress reduction, Susan has held teaching and leadership positions in health care, higher education, and non-profits. Susan works with individuals and groups to guide them in purpose-full living while facing illness and aging and preparing for dying.
Susan is the author of several books including the book we are discussing in this program, Leaves Falling Gently.
WEBSITE: SusanBauer-Wu.com
THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: In this episode, Dr. Trujillo and Susan Bauer-Wu had a thoughtful conversation about how to live a full life while dealing with illness through mindfulness, compassion and connectedness. The conversation focused on Susan's revised edition of Leaves Falling Gently. Susan ended on a powerful idea: when we talk about having a "quality of life" just remember that life is made up of "quality moments." Make every moment count.
DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: I thought our conversation was full of information and advice which would be relevant for everyone, those with serious illness as well as for the rest of us. I enjoyed our discussion of what it means to live fully, and how to deal with unhelpful thoughts and overwhelming emotions. Susan discussed three approaches: simply observing; redirecting; and non-judging. We also covered some of the current neuroscience, including neuroplasticity. This conversation will be an excellent resource for our listeners who are caregivers as well as those with a serious illness.