I have often talked about suffering less by accepting and being fully present with pain or other symptoms. But, this seems counterintuitive and risky. A common question is: When I’m really afraid or in a lot of pain, why would I want to experience more of that? Wouldn’t it be better to do things to […]

Video: You Are What You Practice
We are all masters of practice in that we are practicing something in every moment. We commonly practice unhealthy behaviors and behaviors that are not aligned with our personal life values. If we go around all day being self-critical, we will have a very negative self-image. If we practice behaviors that make us feel good […]

Video: Meaning and Purpose to Your Life
The terms meaning and purpose often appear together, and I would frame their relationship this way: when we act with purpose, we take actions that are important enough to lend meaning to our lives. Meaningful actions are always in accord with our personal life values, whether we value accomplishment, wellbeing, comfort and safety, healthy relationships, […]

Video: Lawrence LeShan’s Cancer Patients Go Into Remission
Psychologist Lawrence LeShan spent his entire adult life practicing psychotherapy with advanced metastatic cancer patients. When he threw out the old Freudian model in which he had been trained, his patients began to unexpectedly go into remission. By helping these patients, all of whom had been given very dire prognoses, to fine meaning and purpose […]
Chronic Illness Q&A with Dr. B.
The purpose of this blog and the entire website is to provide evidence-based information on how to live a vibrant, meaningful life while living with chronic health challenges. I post to this blog three times per week. Monday posts are mindfulness research articles, especially as they relate to health. Wednesday posts are videos of my […]

Video: In Between Medical Appointments
Your doctor is the medical expert. But, in between appointments, your self-care is in your own hands. It is up to you what to eat, how much sleep and rest to get, what type and how much daily exercise to get, how to manage stress, and it is up to you to do things to […]
Chronic Illness Q&A with Dr. B.
This weekly column is for people living with chronic health challenges and their family caregivers, who want to learn to live with mastery & wellbeing. I invite you to post your questions in the comments box below. When I get a certain number of related questions, I pick one that covers them all and I […]

Video: Meaning & Purpose
How one’s sense of purpose in life aids to their health and well-being.

Video: Meaning and Purpose
In Part 7, this final segment of a 7-part series, presented at Marin Center for Independent Living in 2013, we explore the healing power of meaning and purpose. One of the most healthy behaviors is to engage in an active search to find what you can do to add meaning to your life. When we […]
Chronic Illness Q&A with Dr. B.
This question & answer column is for people living with chronic health challenges and their family caregivers, who want to learn to increase the odds of improving their health by learning to live with mastery & wellbeing. I invite you to post your questions in the comments box below. When I get a certain number […]
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