97-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Shares 9 Life Lessons People Learn Too Late | Edith Eger

Rangan Chatterjee

Dec 4, 2024

Episode description

Download my FREE Breathing Guide HERE: http://bit.ly/3WbGHUw

Order Make Change That Lasts today to access my exclusive video masterclass and 10 question worksheet https://drchatterjee.com/books/make-change-that-lasts/

This week marks the 500th episode of this podcast! And what a journey it’s been! There have been so many conversations that have had a profound impact upon my life and to celebrate, I thought it would be fitting to share the conversation that has impacted me the most:

My conversation with the incredible Dr Edith Eger back on episode 144 fundamentally changed who I am and how I see the world. I was lucky enough to meet Edith, now aged 97, a few weeks ago at an event in San Diego and sit down and have a chat with her. We were able to record our brief conversation, which you can hear at the end of this episode.

For those of you who haven’t already heard our initial conversation, Edith is a holocaust survivor who became a psychologist and an expert in the treatment of post-traumatic stress. She is also the author of 3 amazing books, The Choice: Even in Hell Hope Can Flower, The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life, and most recently, she has released ‘The Ballerina of Auschwitz – a retelling of her story for younger adults from a different perspective.

As a Jew living in Eastern Europe under Nazi occupation, Edith was taken to Auschwitz
concentration camp with her parents and sister, at the age of 16. In this conversation, she explains how she found her inner resources, how she came to view her guards as the real prisoners, turn hate into pity and, incredibly, she even describes her horrific experience as ‘an opportunity’. Edith not only survived Auschwitz, she freed herself from the trauma of her past by using her mind and the healing powers of forgiveness.

For those of you who have already heard this conversation, I would urge you to listen again because each time you listen, you will hear something different – as Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher said, ‘no man ever steps in the same river twice’. This really is a timeless conversation that keeps on giving.

Edith’s story is incredible. It is powerful, confronting and, at times, challenging. Above all though, it is deeply inspiring and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 500 episodes of my podcast – I hope you agree.

#feelbetterlivemore
-----

Connect with Edith:
Website https://dreditheger.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr.editheger
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dreditheger
Twitter https://twitter.com/dreditheger1

Edith’s books:
The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life - US: https://amzn.to/3AXLDYN. UK: https://amzn.to/2MfIGJd
The Choice: A true story of hope – US: https://amzn.to/3Ba4Bv4, UK: https://amzn.to/37W51nE
The Ballerina of Auschwitz – US: https://amzn.to/3Zwt4UF, UK: https://amzn.to/3ZfjdS2

#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
-------

Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: https://drchatterjee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/
Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Episode description

Download my FREE Breathing Guide HERE: http://bit.ly/3WbGHUw

Order Make Change That Lasts today to access my exclusive video masterclass and 10 question worksheet https://drchatterjee.com/books/make-change-that-lasts/

This week marks the 500th episode of this podcast! And what a journey it’s been! There have been so many conversations that have had a profound impact upon my life and to celebrate, I thought it would be fitting to share the conversation that has impacted me the most:

My conversation with the incredible Dr Edith Eger back on episode 144 fundamentally changed who I am and how I see the world. I was lucky enough to meet Edith, now aged 97, a few weeks ago at an event in San Diego and sit down and have a chat with her. We were able to record our brief conversation, which you can hear at the end of this episode.

For those of you who haven’t already heard our initial conversation, Edith is a holocaust survivor who became a psychologist and an expert in the treatment of post-traumatic stress. She is also the author of 3 amazing books, The Choice: Even in Hell Hope Can Flower, The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life, and most recently, she has released ‘The Ballerina of Auschwitz – a retelling of her story for younger adults from a different perspective.

As a Jew living in Eastern Europe under Nazi occupation, Edith was taken to Auschwitz
concentration camp with her parents and sister, at the age of 16. In this conversation, she explains how she found her inner resources, how she came to view her guards as the real prisoners, turn hate into pity and, incredibly, she even describes her horrific experience as ‘an opportunity’. Edith not only survived Auschwitz, she freed herself from the trauma of her past by using her mind and the healing powers of forgiveness.

For those of you who have already heard this conversation, I would urge you to listen again because each time you listen, you will hear something different – as Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher said, ‘no man ever steps in the same river twice’. This really is a timeless conversation that keeps on giving.

Edith’s story is incredible. It is powerful, confronting and, at times, challenging. Above all though, it is deeply inspiring and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate 500 episodes of my podcast – I hope you agree.

#feelbetterlivemore
-----

Connect with Edith:
Website https://dreditheger.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dr.editheger
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dreditheger
Twitter https://twitter.com/dreditheger1

Edith’s books:
The Gift: 12 Lessons to Save Your Life - US: https://amzn.to/3AXLDYN. UK: https://amzn.to/2MfIGJd
The Choice: A true story of hope – US: https://amzn.to/3Ba4Bv4, UK: https://amzn.to/37W51nE
The Ballerina of Auschwitz – US: https://amzn.to/3Zwt4UF, UK: https://amzn.to/3ZfjdS2

#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
-------

Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: https://drchatterjee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/
Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Overcome perfectionism to defeat procrastination

If you are a perfectionist who wants to do everything just right, you are going to procrastinate.

Acknowledge all suffering as a universal experience

There is no hierarchy in suffering, and you shouldn't minimize or trivialize any feeling, as suffering is a universal part of life.

Cultivate curiosity to navigate challenging situations

The one word that can guide you to survive challenging situations is curiosity, the desire to know what will happen next.

Express to combat depression and promote well-being

The opposite of depression is expression, because what comes out of your body doesn't make you ill, but what stays in does.

Foster intimacy through healthy conflict in relationships

If a couple says they never fight, it means they don't have intimacy either, because intimacy requires vulnerability.

Allow yourself to feel rage and grief to heal

You cannot heal what you do not feel, so you must allow yourself to experience rage and grief without getting stuck in them.

Gift yourself forgiveness to liberate from the past

Forgiveness is not for the other person, but a gift you give yourself to be liberated from being a hostage of the past.

Break free from self-imposed mental prisons

The worst prison is not the one the Nazis put you in, but the one you build for yourself in your own mind.

Discover inner power through adversity of Auschwitz

Auschwitz was an opportunity to discover the inner power that no Nazi could take away.

Learn from obnoxious individuals to discover inner kindness

The most obnoxious person is your best teacher, as they reveal the bigot and the kindness that exists within you.

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