Dr. Erica Miller was just 7 years old when she and her family were taken from their home in Romania and forced to live in a Nazi concentration camp. Dr. Miller spent the next 4 years of her childhood in captivity. Even at such a young age, she had to fight to find the will to survive.
As a result, Dr. Miller has a unique outlook on life that has carried her far. As a best-selling author and inspirational speaker, she loves to share her story with others. At 88 years young, she continues to help many people live life to the fullest.
Dr. Miller has 4 stand out ways that you, too, can live a long and full life:
- Look for the good
While in captivity, Dr. Miller had an encounter that changed her outlook on life. A Nazi guard’s unexpected kindness reminded her to always look for the good.
Life won’t always be easy, but if you try, you can find the good in any situation. It may not be right away, but it’s there – in the generosity of a friend or the closed door that opens an even better one.
Take time to look for the good and it will be easier and easier to find next time. Over the course of your life, you’ll have more examples than you can count.
- Beat the odds
Later in life, Dr. Miller decided to go back to school to become a psychologist. At the time, it was virtually unheard of for a wife and mother to attend graduate school. However, she decided to beat the odds.
There will certainly be times in your life when you encounter resistance. Culture may tell you your dream is impossible. You may even have people you care about speak discouraging words. When this happens, it’s easy to find an excuse to give up.
But one of the secrets to living a full life it to go for it anyway! Don’t be a hostage to your own fears. Be the one who beats the odds – you won’t regret it!
- Make an impact
If you follow your dreams, you have the potential to make an impact on those around you. But how do you find what you’re meant to do?
Dr. Miller believes that in order to make things happen in life, you first need a vision. Be willing to embrace the moment and push yourself. This way, you can find what you’re meant to do.
What’s more, it’s never too late to get started. Using your age or stage in life to dismiss your dreams is just an excuse. Let it go and go for it!
- Don’t fear the end
Dr. Miller’s time in captivity put her face to face with death every day. She decided then that she didn’t want to die “ugly.” She wanted a beautiful life and a beautiful death.
Western culture often tells you to fear the end of your life. But what if you choose not to? Instead, embrace your mortality and live to die beautifully. When you aren’t worried about the end of the journey, you can enjoy it.