a presentation of ... Creative Healing, LLC
Opening The Heart Of Western Medicine
Who Should Read This Book
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People facing grief or loss
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Caregivers and family members
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Healthcare professionals
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Hospice and end-of-life workers
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Spiritual seekers
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Book clubs interested in meaningful discussion
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Anyone asking, "What really matters in life?"


Click on photos to view endorsements.

"Dr. Karen Wyatt practices medicine as she lives – with courage, humility and an open heart. In caring for people who are nearing life’s end, she finds essential truths and reveals what really matters. The lessons she offers are a gift of enormous wisdom." Ira Byock, MD, author of Dying Well, and The Best Care Possible

"Dr Karen Wyatt is one of the great teachers of our time in the end of life space. Her new book 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying: How to Nurture What Really Matters is filled with invaluable first hand experiences with those at the very sacred time of end of life. Sharing the wisdom from those nearing death can teach us everything about living. This book is a must read for all of us." – Suzanne B. O'Brien RN Founder of International Doulagivers Institute

“[This book] really does matter: it is lessons for the living from those dying. Clearly and succinctly written, and with deeply profound insights, this is a highly recommended book for those in the land of the living from those no longer with us. Don’t wait until then to get the message! Buy it now and benefit from its life-changing insights before it’s too late!” —Ken Wilber author of The Integral Vision

In 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying, Karen Wyatt offers a deep and compassionate guide to what she has learned through her own losses and her work as a hospice doctor. With both story and description, she convinces us that, in facing death, we can learn to face our suffering, find our love and forgiveness, find presence in this beautiful moment, find purpose, learn to surrender and accept our impermanence. -Cheryl Jones, host of Good Grief radio and author of An Ocean Between Then

"In 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying, Dr. Karen Wyatt addresses a long-standing taboo in our youth-obsessed, feel-good society: death and the process of dying. But if you find yourself resisting reading a book on these matters, hey, you’re probably someone who needs these seven lessons the most. But so do we all, which is why this splendid book should be widely read.” —Larry Dossey, MD author of Healing Words and The Power of Premonitions

“Karen Wyatt’s wise and timely book takes you on the transformational journey that unfolds when we begin what’s seems an impossible undertaking: to reconcile with our mortality. For many of us, this journey is unfolding right now against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. I have always been touched by Karen’s integrity and authenticity over the years. Both shine through in the warm and genuine voice and lived wisdom she shares in this book.” Kirsten DeLeo, author of Present Through The End

“For many of us what life is about and what really matters doesn't become reality until we accept our mortality. Karen Wyatt has learned from her life and work about what really matters and her book of lessons is filled with the words and lessons of wisdom a life coach would share.” —Bernie Siegel, MD author of The Art of Healing and A Book of Miracles

“ If you are afraid of death, or of losing the ones you love, make this book your companion and guide. If you wake each morning not knowing what to do or how to live, open these pages and begin. I cannot think of a more comforting, inspiring and valuable map and resource for these troubled times. Thank you Dr. Karen Wyatt for helping us see that death can be a source of wisdom, gifts and blessings for our lives." Lucinda Herring, author of Reimagine Death

"It has been a long time since I have been as deeply moved by someone's deep and personal life experiences, ensconced in the most beautiful of writing, and wrapped in sheer spirituality, as I have been by reading the book 7 Lessons for Living from the Dying. … I am reading between tears and wonder and feeling as if I was having a “hollyhock” experience.” —Carew Papritz author of The Legacy Letters

“Karen reveals her wisdom from her position as a physician in hospice as she shares the amazing stories of the dying. In these stories she gives us a glimpse of the meaning of our existence. Intertwined between the stories she maps how to release the fears of our own death. This a beautifully written book that comes to us with deep love and caring.” Patt Lind-Kyle Author of Embracing the End of Life: A Journey into Dying and Awakening.

Karen Wyatt proposes that the dying have something to offer the living: the wisdom that comes from the clear and conclusive awareness of what really matters. By her sensitive recounting of the end-of-life experiences of those she cared for and befriended in Hospice, and through her reflection on the truths that became clear to them and to her as death drew near, she has created a profoundly moving and insightful spiritual guide to the Art of Living." - Fr. William Skudlarek

"This book brings important information and gentleness into our personal journeys. Karen sees the sacredness and beauty in how each individual can live fully into one’s dying. Regardless of your spiritual or religious beliefs, you will learn more about what it means to truly live well and die well. Karen Wyatt is a wise, gentle and knowledgeable teacher." Phyllis Shacter, author, “Choosing To Die"


As a hospice physician, Dr. Karen Wyatt has been widely recognized for her caring presence with patients and her deep understanding of the spiritual aspect of health, illness and dying. After the suicide death of her father she spent years studying spiritual wisdom while listening to the stories of her hospice patients. From the depths of her own broken heart she found a path to transformation that changed how she practiced medicine and how she lives her own life.
She is the author of multiple books and the host of the popular End-of-Life University Podcast where she shares wisdom for living life fully as well as interviews with experts from various fields on dying, death and grief.
Subscribe to her email list here.





Now Available
for FREE Download!
The What Really Matters
Workbook
This free workbook contains practices, journaling prompts, and an assessment to accompany the book and help you focus on your spiritual development. Download and print these pages to help you create a personalized plan for spiritual growth and track your progress over time.

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What expectations did you have before reading this book? Were any of them changed by the stories and lessons you encountered?
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What personal experience have you had with loss and suffering? Has that experience caused you to question your faith (if you have a spiritual practice)? Or strengthened your faith?
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What did you learn from the stories of dying patients that might be helpful for living your own life?
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Dr. Wyatt believes that Forgiveness is one of the hardest and most important lessons for us to learn and practice. Do you agree? What are your thoughts and struggles with the practice of Forgiveness?
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Did reading this book cause you to want to change anything about your current life? Have your own ideas of “what really matters” in life been influenced by the book?
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Has reading this book changed the way you think about death, loss, aging, illness, or the choices you make in everyday life?
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What was the most valuable thing you learned from reading this book?
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Dr. Wyatt has said that the story of her patient Adam (the man with cancer of the face) had one of the greatest impacts on her life. Which patient story was your favorite?
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The book explores questions about meaning, spirituality, and what may lie beyond death. How have your own beliefs or questions been influenced by the stories in the book?
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Is this book only for people who are dying?
Not at all. While the lessons in this book come from the experiences of hospice patients at the end of life, they are ultimately lessons about living. Through stories of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances, the book explores what matters most to all of us—regardless of our age, health, or life situation.
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Will this book be depressing?
Many readers are surprised to discover that this book is more inspiring than sad. Although it deals with death, loss, and suffering, it is ultimately a hopeful book about love, forgiveness, purpose, and finding meaning in life. The stories of hospice patients reveal not only the challenges of dying but also the wisdom, courage, and grace that can emerge during difficult times.
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Is this a religious book?
No. The book explores spiritual themes, but it is not tied to any particular religious tradition. Readers from many different faith backgrounds—as well as those who consider themselves spiritual but not religious—have found value in the lessons shared here. The focus is on universal human experiences and the wisdom that emerges from them.
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Do I need to have experience with hospice or caregiving to understand it?
No. While some readers come to the book because of a personal experience with illness, caregiving, or loss, many others simply want to live more intentionally and reflect on what truly matters. The stories and lessons are accessible to anyone interested in personal growth, meaning, and living with greater awareness.
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How does this book differ from other end-of-life books?
Rather than focusing primarily on the medical aspects of dying, this book explores the life lessons revealed by people nearing the end of life. Drawing on years of hospice experience, Dr. Wyatt identifies seven essential lessons—suffering, love, forgiveness, presence, purpose, surrender, and impermanence—that can help us live more meaningful and authentic lives.
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Can this book be used by book clubs, discussion groups or classes?
Yes. The book has been used by book clubs, hospice volunteers, healthcare professionals, spiritual study groups, and individuals interested in personal growth. Discussion questions are available to help readers explore the lessons and apply them to their own lives.
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What are the seven lessons?
The Seven Lessons are the core themes that emerged repeatedly in the lives of dying patients:
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Suffering
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Love
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Forgiveness
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Presence
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Purpose
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Surrender
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Impermanence
These lessons are not only relevant at the end of life. They offer guidance for anyone seeking to live with greater wisdom, compassion, and meaning.

"Now more than ever ...
this is the book the world
needs to help us rise
above global crisis."

7 Lessons for Living
from the Dying
- Carew Papritz, Award-Winning Author of
The Legacy Letters
As we face an unprecedented global crises and devastating climate change this book of wisdom from a hospice physician can teach us how to navigate the challenges before us:
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Coping with loss and grief
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Facing our mortality
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Finding love and joy in the midst of sorrow
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Transforming fear into spiritual growth
Read this book to gain the tools you need for living fully in difficult times.
Available wherever books are sold




