The Power of Positive Visualization for Healing from Heart Surgery
02/20/24 • 29 min
**Alert! The name of this podcast is changing on June 4th to Open Heart Surgery with Boots! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the announcement. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter!**
#38 I dove deep this week, for you fellow heart buddies. I share how I overcame fear and cultivated a positive mindset for healing. I share about my experience with the power of visualization, drawing from personal experiences with heart surgery and injury recovery. As an athlete, I have benefited from using mental imagery to gear up for success and now have experienced how this technique can speed up healing. I share my experience with a concussion during my time as a ski instructor. Tune in for hope and advice on facing health hurdles with optimism, and share your stories with me. Don't forget to leave a review and spread the word!
The teachers I reference in the episode are:
Dr. Joe Dispenza
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Belleruth Naparstek
If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:
06:11 How Boots overcame a devastating TBI, relearned how to ski and visualized skiing exam success, achieving a top score.
07:49 Boots received a surprise award nomination, but then, heart surgery happened leading to an uncertain future in ski instruction. Nevertheless, she was proud of the moment and the visualization got her through the heart surgery.
13:26 Visualizing health, positivity, and recovery before heart surgery.
16:14 Focusing on positivity reduces stress for better health.
20:10 When in doubt, seek a 2nd opinion, call a therapist, visualize a positive outcome for your situation.
21:58 Boots briefly speaks about breaking her leg but remains optimistic.
26:49 Now, she is visualizing strength, surgery, recovery.
Boots Knighton has been an educator since the late 1990s in all facets of education including high school science, middle school mathematics, elementary reading, college level ecology, ski instruction, backpacking, and experiential education. Her greatest teacher has been her heart thanks to a surprise diagnosis in 2020 (during the pandemic) of three different congenital heart defects. She is now thriving after her open-heart surgery on January 15, 2021 and is on a mission to raise awareness through her podcast, The Heart Chamber: patient stories of open-heart surgery and recovery, that heart surgery can be an incredible opportunity to begin again in life and live life wide open.
Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.
Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.
If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.
**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**
How to connect with Boots
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well.
**Alert! The name of this podcast is changing on June 4th to Open Heart Surgery with Boots! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the announcement. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter!**
#38 I dove deep this week, for you fellow heart buddies. I share how I overcame fear and cultivated a positive mindset for healing. I share about my experience with the power of visualization, drawing from personal experiences with heart surgery and injury recovery. As an athlete, I have benefited from using mental imagery to gear up for success and now have experienced how this technique can speed up healing. I share my experience with a concussion during my time as a ski instructor. Tune in for hope and advice on facing health hurdles with optimism, and share your stories with me. Don't forget to leave a review and spread the word!
The teachers I reference in the episode are:
Dr. Joe Dispenza
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Belleruth Naparstek
If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:
06:11 How Boots overcame a devastating TBI, relearned how to ski and visualized skiing exam success, achieving a top score.
07:49 Boots received a surprise award nomination, but then, heart surgery happened leading to an uncertain future in ski instruction. Nevertheless, she was proud of the moment and the visualization got her through the heart surgery.
13:26 Visualizing health, positivity, and recovery before heart surgery.
16:14 Focusing on positivity reduces stress for better health.
20:10 When in doubt, seek a 2nd opinion, call a therapist, visualize a positive outcome for your situation.
21:58 Boots briefly speaks about breaking her leg but remains optimistic.
26:49 Now, she is visualizing strength, surgery, recovery.
Boots Knighton has been an educator since the late 1990s in all facets of education including high school science, middle school mathematics, elementary reading, college level ecology, ski instruction, backpacking, and experiential education. Her greatest teacher has been her heart thanks to a surprise diagnosis in 2020 (during the pandemic) of three different congenital heart defects. She is now thriving after her open-heart surgery on January 15, 2021 and is on a mission to raise awareness through her podcast, The Heart Chamber: patient stories of open-heart surgery and recovery, that heart surgery can be an incredible opportunity to begin again in life and live life wide open.
Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.
Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.
If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.
**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**
How to connect with Boots
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well.
Previous Episode
Accepting a Heart Diagnosis: Strategies for Processing, Healing, and Thriving Post-Surgery
In episode 37 of the Heart Chamber Podcast, host Boots Knighton shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with a heart condition. She discusses the challenges she faced and the strategies she used to cope, including seeking support from friends and professionals, undergoing therapies like EMDR, acupuncture, and reiki, and embracing the power of community. Despite the initial shock and medical gaslighting, Boots emphasizes the importance of emotional processing, seeking help, and accepting the situation with radical positivity. She highlights the impact of her heart journey and how it has transformed her perspective, even leading her to start the podcast and speak at TEDx. The episode resonates with those facing health challenges, offering hope and inspiration.
If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:
04:56 Boots reflects on her head injury and the positive impact on her life through reframing. She compares the recovery to a deep soul excavation and finding forgotten items during spring cleaning.
09:00 She shares her journey dealing with trauma and seeking professional support for coping and managing heart diagnoses.
11:16 A heart diagnosis takes time, needs support.
15:04 Accepting birth defects, overcoming grief, and sobriety journey.
20:24 Boots is grateful for the support of various healthcare professionals and alternative healers during their health journey, and wishes she had a better understanding at the beginning. She recommends a podcast for others in similar situations.
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/af6e5d74-4767-4519-b339-496a97814d87
https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ad483bd7-269d-447a-918d-f8fac3aa8b78
23:56 Embrace challenges, listen to your soul, and please share this podcast.
25:38 Thanks for your time and support. Please subscribe, share, review, and provide feedback. Email me with your thoughts.
Boots Knighton has been an educator since the late 1990s in all facets of education including high school science, middle school mathematics, elementary reading, college level ecology, ski instruction, backpacking, and experiential education. Her greatest teacher has been her heart thanks to a surprise diagnosis in 2020 (during the pandemic) of three different congenital heart defects. She is now thriving after her open-heart surgery on January 15, 2021 and is on a mission to raise awareness through her podcast, The Heart Chamber: patient stories of open-heart surgery and recovery, that heart surgery can be an incredible opportunity to begin again in life and live life wide open.
Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.
Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.
If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.
**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**
How to connect with Boots
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well.
Next Episode
Finding Joy in Simplicity After Life-Changing Heart Surgery
#39 Boots Knighton, with her signature blend of warmth and wisdom, opens up about life before and after the operating room. As Boots recounts the trials of her recovery, you'll find yourself drawn into a narrative filled with practical advice on managing post-surgery health and emotional well-being. From the surprising impact of diet to the tactics for coping with hospital stays, this episode is packed with insights. But it's not all serious – hear how Bob Ross's serene landscapes and the antics of woodland creatures brought unexpected joy to Boots's journey. Eager to learn how to turn a health crisis into a pivot point for a fuller life? Let Boots's story inspire you.
The episode with Josh Dech can be found here: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/910773ce-49d2-45cf-a7fc-55a596725013
If you are looking for something specific - here's where you'll find it:
06:09 Boots turned her hospital walks into a daily game.
09:16 The importance of gut health and pooping.
11:36 Excessive vomiting after surgery due to medication.
17:03 What you choose to watch on TV is just as much a part of your diet as what you put in your body.
19:26 Friend's unwavering support and nourishment mean everything.
22:18 Watching animals brought comfort after heart surgery.
26:14 Overcoming challenges can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
30:06 Gratitude, love, hope, inspiration, healing, share, and please leave a review.
Join the Newsletter for almost weekly content for this podcast and other heart related news.
Join the Patreon Community! The Joyful Beat zoom group is where you'll find connection and hope that you aren't alone in your journey.
If you just want to support the show as a one-time gift (thank you), go here.
**I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. Be sure to check in with your care team about all the next right steps for you and your heart.**
How to connect with Boots
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: @openheartsurgerywithboots or @boots.knighton
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/boots-knighton
If you enjoyed this episode, take a minute and share it with someone you know who will find value in it as well.
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