What if you could find profound peace in the midst of life’s greatest challenges? Join us on a heartfelt journey with our dear friend Karen Eden, who shares her remarkable story of resilience and inner transformation. Karen’s unexpected experience of deep stillness during a tumultuous period in her life set the stage for an exploration of resilience, as she opens up about facing a terminal cancer diagnosis and her daughter’s struggles following a stroke at age nine. Her insights offer a raw and enlightening perspective on coping with profound personal and familial adversity.
In this powerful episode, we explore the emotional and spiritual journey that unfolds with a terminal cancer diagnosis. Karen discusses her path from choosing alternative treatments to finding deep acceptance and spiritual presence that brings peace despite the gravity of her situation. We delve into the intricate connection between physical illness and emotional grief, particularly in relation to familial loss, and how this awareness contributes to the healing process. The conversation also reflects on the temporal nature of the body and the enduring spirit, offering solace and acceptance in the face of mortality. Karen highlights the growth found in spiritual presence and the blessings that emerge from accepting life’s impermanence.
Our exploration of resilience takes on a historical dimension as we draw parallels between Karen’s family experiences during Nazi Germany and the current global crises. Through stories of courage and strength passed down through generations, we emphasize the importance of recognizing our inner goodness and spiritual essence beyond organized religion. Karen’s narrative underscores the power of self-awareness and personal growth, reminding us of our ability to transcend imposed authorities. As we wrap up the episode, we reflect on diverse paths to spirituality and inner peace, including meditation and the solace found in nature, offering listeners a chance to reconnect with their own strength and potential for transformation.
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Malcolm Stern has worked as a group and individual psychotherapist for more than 30 years. He was a co-founder of Alternatives at St James’s Church in London and runs groups internationally.
He is the author of Falling in Love / Staying in Love (Piatkus 2004) and Slay Your Dragons with Compassion ( Watkins 2020). He co-presented Channel 4’s relationship series, ‘Made for Each Other’ in 2003 and 2004 and sailed on the ‘Rainbow Warrior’ with Greenpeace in the 1980s. The book he is currently writing is an exploration of the shadow and its necessity in our evolutionary development.
Malcolm Stern in conversation with guests.