Heal Forward: Transform Emotional Scars into Impact

By Diane M. Simard

Are you haunted by emotional trauma? Diane M. Simard reveals how she persevered through a lifetime of psychological struggles and adversities, including Stage 3c breast cancer, to heal forward and create impactful change. After completing cancer treatment in 2015, she founded the Center for Oncology Psychology Excellence (COPE), a specialty at the University of Denver's Graduate School of Professional Psychology. The COPE story was later featured in "Courageous Warriors: Beauty from the Ashes," a multi award-winning independent documentary film. Diane also helped launch a mental health therapy pilot grant program through the Ray of Hope Colorado Cancer Foundation and served as a patient advisor for a digital therapeutics company. Diane's approach is based on the ten life principles that transformed her attitude and outlook about middle age, toxic corporate culture, weight loss, self-absorbed bosses, and failure.
"Examples of transformational leadership like what Diane offers is what this world needs because so much is happening in the blink of an eye," said one reader. "Her innate gift of being five steps ahead of the rest of us is a valuable asset for the greater unfolding of our society."

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350909388

Book preview

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"Diane M. Simard is an authentic and humorous, yet serious, storyteller. Heal Forward is a compelling story of life events and relationships and the learnings that come from them. The result: Ten guiding principles that we can all apply, told with insight and a good dose of self-deprecating humor."

—Beatriz Bonnet, former translation industry CEO/business and nonprofit advisor

"Heal Forward offers an unfiltered, emotionally powerful, and deeply cathartic exploration of life, revealing the profound impact that our relationships with friends, family, and those in our inner circle have on our perspectives and guiding principles."

—Danny Moore, aerospace CEO

From the first page I was riveted by the stories that show how traumatic events, and how we deal with that pain, shape our lives. Diane’s ten principles for healing forward form a powerful basis for transforming trauma into strength, leadership, positive growth, and peace.

—Gretchen L. Jahn, retired aviation industry CEO

"Heal Forward is an absolute gem of a book that will uplift and inspire you from the very first page. Diane’s incredible strength and resilience shine through her heartfelt stories and reflections, reminding us all of the boundless power we have within ourselves. This book is a radiant beacon of hope, encouraging us to embrace our own inner strength and find solace in the belief that love truly has the power to set us free."

—Charlotte Wroe, mindset and business coach 

To R.J.

Heal Forward

Transform Emotional Scars into Impact

©2023, Diane M. Simard

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 979-835090-937-1

ISBN eBook: 979-8-35090-938-8

Contents

Preface

1. Heal Life’s Emotional Scars

2. Strive for Peace and Balance

3. Seek Respect, Not Adoration

4. Analyze and Listen

5. Perpetually Learn

6. Appreciate Challenges

7. Celebrate Differences

8. Seek and Be a Mentor

9. Growth Results from the Journey,

Not the Victory

10. Adversity Forms Us; Love Frees Us

EPILOGUE

THE LAST WORD

Preface

I have had many worst days. They turned from mundane to awful the moment I heard these words:

For years, hearing bad news felt like I was flat on my back on a patch of rocky desert ground, staring up at a medieval warrior towering over me. After he plunged his saber into my heart and propped his leather-sandaled foot on my chest, he wiggled the sword back and forth, snapped his head—crowned by wavy, dark-chocolate Jon Snow hair—back and unleashed a throaty, Hahaha!

MIDDLE-AGE REBIRTH

The year I turned fifty, my attitude about adversity shifted. Late Stage 3 breast cancer was brutal, but the ordeal forced me to ponder my mortality and purpose. I experienced a rebirth after being granted an unexpected opportunity to do a better job of living, to