The Ballerina of Auschwitz on Building Resilience, Strength, Hope, and Love | Dr. Edith Eger (Fan Fave) - Women of Impact Recap

Podcast: Women of Impact

Published: 2026-03-12

Duration: 4430

Guests: Dr. Edith Eger

What Happened

Dr. Edith Eger, at 97 years old, recounts her harrowing experience as a Holocaust survivor. Taken to Auschwitz at 16, she faced a pivotal moment when a Nazi guard separated her from her mother, a decision based on whether the woman was her mother or sister. Rather than succumb to the victim mentality, Dr. Eger forged a path of resilience and self-forgiveness, emphasizing that dwelling on the past is less productive than choosing to live and love.

Dr. Eger's philosophy revolves around the transformative power of the mind. She refused to see herself as a victim in Auschwitz, instead viewing it as a temporary schooling. With a mindset focused on connecting with others through love, she resisted giving herself the option to give up, even dancing for Dr. Mengele as a show of inner strength.

Edith Eger's story is one of empathy and understanding, even in the face of hatred. She turned hatred into pity, seeing perpetrators like Dr. Mengele as more imprisoned than herself. With a patient who was a white supremacist, she used the phrase 'tell me more' to foster understanding rather than confrontation.

In her reflections, Dr. Eger stresses the significance of choices and avoiding the victim label. She believes in the importance of being a good parent to oneself and not relying on others for happiness. Her approach to life includes not using absolutes like 'always' and 'never,' and guiding her words by the acronym INK - Important, Necessary, Kind.

Dr. Eger underscores the value of revisiting painful memories as part of the healing process, as illustrated by her trip back to Auschwitz. She teaches her family to live in the present and be kind, a philosophy extending to her professional work. Her personal story helps others without reopening her own wounds.

The host also shares a personal journey of overcoming societal standards and personal trauma. At 19, she contemplated suicide due to overwhelming pain and societal pressures. Through her experiences, she learned to embrace her imperfections as part of her unique calling. By seeking evidence of potential through small successes, she built a program teaching emotional literacy to teenagers, receiving positive feedback and validating her path.

Key Insights

• Dr. Edith Eger's life exemplifies resilience, having survived Auschwitz at 16 and choosing to live with a mindset of love and forgiveness. Her approach emphasizes not dwelling on the past but focusing on self-forgiveness and living fully.
• Dr. Eger highlights the power of the mind in overcoming adversity. Viewing Auschwitz as a temporary school, she focused on connecting with others through love and refused to give herself the option to give up.
• Empathy is a cornerstone of Dr. Eger's philosophy, even towards those filled with hate. She transformed hatred into pity and engaged with a white supremacist patient through understanding, illustrating her belief in the power of compassion.
• The host narrates her struggle with societal beauty standards and personal trauma, eventually finding empowerment through embracing her imperfections. She initiated a successful program for teens, focusing on emotional literacy, as evidence of potential and a path to personal growth.