The Keys To Our Success

WSC Intro/Outro: 00:00:04

This is When Spirit Calls and you on your journey are in the right place. This show is about magic miracles and meaning shared through stories, interviews and channeled messages. We have so much to share about who you are and your divine mission here on the earth. Let's get to it When Spirit Calls is right now.

: 00:00:32

We have another special guest today Dr. Allen Steven Lycka. Doctor Lycka was acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologist in the world for three decades, a pioneer in cosmetic surgery, he was able to help removing skin cancer with 99% success rate. He has lived and practiced in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada since 1989. He's written 17 Books 30 Plus academic papers, and hosted the number one internet radio show in the world inside cosmetic surgery today. He is a co founder of doctors for the practice of safe and ethical aesthetic medicine, and founder of the Canadian skin's Cancer Association. He won the prestigious Consumers Choice Award for cosmetic surgery for 16 consecutive years. In 2003 Dr. Lycka's life changed drastically when he suddenly developed a right foot drop while on vacation with his family at Disneyland. He promised his wife he would explore it, and after seeing many doctors was misdiagnosed with having ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease. Still, he maintained his status as a leading cosmetic doctor for 30 years, and he later discovered he had chronic Lyme disease. Because of what he learned to do experience he left his practice and co authored the best selling book, The Secrets to living a fantastic life with Harriet Tinka, a former fashion model and Woman of Distinction. He has also authored two more books, blue talks, as well as one with Jack Canfield entitled The pillars of success. Both also became best sellers during the COVID crisis and 2020 currently acknowledged as a leading expert in living a fantastic life and turning points. He is a transformational speaker, thought leader, coach and mentor. He is happily married to Dr. Lucie Bernier-Lycka for 38 years and they have four lovely daughters and seven beautiful grandchildren. And he counts his family as his most important accomplishment. I am delighted to welcome Dr. Lycka to our show today.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:02:44

Oh hello, everyone. Welcome back to another show When Spirit Calls. Of course, I have another amazing guest with us today. Dr. Allen Lycka is here with us. Hi, Dr. Lycka.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:02:58

Hello, how are you today?

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:03:00

I'm doing so good. And I am so excited to spend this time with you. You and I have gotten a chance to spend a bit of time in small doses. And every time I just feel so enriched after. So I'm delighted to have you on as today's guest.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:03:15

Thank you for having me. It really is a pleasure to be here.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:03:20

Thank you. So why don't you start us off doctor like and tell us a little bit about your journey in terms of who you are and what the heck you're up to today?

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:03:30

Sure. My journey, you know, is is a long one. But you know, it started on this path back in 2003. And I was walking with my wife and my youngest daughter in Disneyland. And you know, it's supposed to be the happiest place on earth. But my wife turned to me and said, What's wrong with you? I was taken aback. You know, for once in my life. I hadn't said anything wrong. I hadn't done anything wrong. I hadn't even thumbkin II they grow up. But she persisted. What's wrong with you? I said, I don't think anything's wrong with me. And she said, listen to your foot. I said, What do you mean, listen to your foot. She said it's flapping. I said, Dear, that's the funniest thing you've ever said. No, it's flapping. So I listened to my foot and it was slapping on the pavement with each step I was taking. You know, my right foot had suddenly and mysteriously developed a right foot drop. My wife said did you have a stroke? And I said, Dear, if I had a stroke, I'd probably be lying on the pavement saying something unimaginable. And something would be very, very wrong while she said you know when you get back you better get this checked out of the ad when your wife gives you that ultimatum or your mother gives you that ultimate. What do you do? You get it checked out,

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:04:57

get it checked out. Exactly.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:04:59

So I saw on dozens of doctors, probably hundreds of doctors, and they literally did every test known to them. They did CAT scans, they did brain scans. They even did scan scans. And you know what they showed at the end of the day DeeAnne?

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:05:17

What did they show?

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:05:19

They showed it had absolutely nothing.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:05:21

Nothing.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:05:22

The doctors were befuddled. They thought I had a brain tumor, or they thought I had a slipped disc or something they can pin it on. But they found nothing. And you know, what doctors do when they find absolutely nothing?

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:05:37

What do they do doctor Lycka?

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:05:39

They do more tests and more tests and more tests. They're not going to be stopped with no answer. And at the end of those tests, they still show to absolutely nothing.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:05:51

Wow.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:05:52

What they said, you know, we're gonna send you to a world leading neurologist, the brain guy, he's got all the answers to these complex problems. I'm gonna send you there. They said, Well, I went to see a neurologist. And he I walked in and he said, I said, hi. He said, Hi, you better be sitting down. When I tell you this. I said, why I've got a dropped right foot. He said, No, you don't you have ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. In six months, you're going to be dead. Get your affairs in order.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:06:26

Oh my gosh.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:06:28

So I shot back at him. Is there a way to prove this diagnosis? He said, Of course on autopsy. Oh, I shot back at him. I'm not going to die to prove you wrong. No. When you go through this do you go through a lot of phases. You go through the phases of death and dying that Elisabeth Kubler Ross wrote in a book on death and die, and you go through anger, you're angry at everything. I was angry at my patients. I was angry at my wife. I was angry at my kids. And they knew I was mad. But they didn't know why. I went through a phase of bargaining. Oh, God, please don't let this happen. I'll do anything if you don't let this out. Yes, but I didn't think God was listening. At least not that. You go through denial. You know, and I'm not talking about the river in Egypt. I'm talking about denial, you deny that you have anything? Yeah. So I'd work 1214 hours a day, I immerse myself in work. And I'd say there was nothing wrong. But I knew something was wrong. My right leg was getting worse. And my right hand was getting worse. I couldn't do the things with my right hand that I used to do. So therefore, I became a left handed surgeon, I learned how to do everything with my left hand. Now the good thing is my disability came on slowly so I could adapt. But the answer was it was interesting, because surgery is not built for left handed people. There are not the tools to use, you know, back then there were no left handed scissors, a surgeon good. So I had to develop them all myself. And then you go through depression. DeeAnne, have you ever been depressed?

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:08:21

Yes, sir.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:08:22

Yeah, it's one of the worst things that's where everything is black, who stay in bed all day staring at the ceiling, saying, Why should I get out of bed, it's not going to matter anyhow. You can't eat you can't sleep life takes on a very, very dark meaning. I call them the black days, because that's what they were. They were very. I even had this plan to kill myself, you know, and I decided that I'm not going to die by ALS, gasping for air, if that's what I have. But before I did that, I went to my wife and I said to my wife, I said, Dear, what do I have? She said, I haven't got the faintest idea. She said, but you don't have ALS. She said, and you're smart. You'll figure it out. I said, Dear, I've seen hundreds of doctors, they couldn't figure it out. She said you're smarter than that. You'll figure it out. Well, back in those days 2003 2005 There was something new invented you might have heard about. It's called the intranet. You ever hear that DeeAnne?

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:09:27

That Internet?

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:09:29

Yes, but it was very primitive back that you know, we had to use dial on connection.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:09:34

That's right.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:09:36

Put your phone in a cradle and it'll phone up another phone and it'll go Riviera, three as noxious out that went on for like 15 minutes, right? Finally it connected and when it connected. You only can talk by a very primitive language like Das, because there wasn't any memory and computers back then. They were very Be very primitive. So you had to do a good thing. I had friends that were nerds, and they could search the internet for me. Now I have found the Internet to be the most amazing place with great things, but also garbage cans. And you can't tell the great things from the garbage cans are there. Yeah. And it's still that way today that there's so much garbage out there. You can't tell the wonderful things from it. So we looked and they found a doctor in Colorado Springs, Colorado by the name of David Mart's David had a story very similar to mine. But he got worse, much more rapidly. And he was on his deathbed within a couple of weeks of getting his diagnosis. But he was so well known doctors from around the world. Were saying we're coming up to say goodbye to David. And a doctor came up from Texas and looked at David and said, David, I don't think you have ALS. I don't think you have Lou Gehrig's disease, David whispered, because that's all he can do at that time. He said, What do I have? Other doctor from Texas said, I think you have chronic Lyme disease. I think you've been bitten by a tick. And it mimics ALS. So if I'm worried, he said, I can start you on treatment and make you better. David said, What do I have to lose? I'm dying. Wow, he started on treatment. And within two weeks, he was like Lazarus arising from the dead. He was back to his normal self. Wow. David was decided at that time that he was going to find out more about this disease. And he started to the clinic called the Rocky Mountain chronic disease clinic. And I thought, Well, geez, I gotta get in touch with this doctor. So I phoned every hospital in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and I got in touch with him at the Methodist Hospital. And there, I was able to find out more. And we were able to talk. And he said, Dr. Lycka, can you come down and see me? I said when he said what about right now? I said, David is Thanksgiving in Kansas. And I kept cut down. My wife's invited 50 people over. David said, Aren't there any planes and Kevin wasn't going to take that lame excuse. He said, Get your ass down here. So I went to my wife and I talked her I said, Dear, I'm not going to be here for Thanksgiving. She said, Where are you going? This time? You always seem to do a teaching doctors and things like that. I said, Well, there's a doctor in Colorado Springs, Colorado that claims he can help me. So she said, Well, what are you waiting for? I'll pack your bags for it. To get you to the airport. Don't worry about Thanksgiving.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:12:40

Yeah.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:12:41

So I got to the airport. I got on a beautiful plane from Edmonton to Denver. It's a direct flight two and a half hours long. But then I got on a rinky dink puddle jumper from Denver to Colorado Springs. Have you ever been on a rinky dink puddle jumper? Bleh

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:12:59

I have been on a very small plane before? Yes, indeed.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:13:02

Yeah, well, this one is particularly a challenge because the air comes off the desert at the end of the day, and it causes Eddie's which causes turbulence, that means the plane will be flying along, and then it'll drop 100 feet without climb again. And then we'll drop another 200 with a slight drop of depth. It is over and over and over again. By the time that 15 minute flight ended, every relay on the flight was great. I crawled off the flight and there was David on the tarmac to me. And David said, We talked for hours. And he said, You know, I think history is repeating itself. I think there is a way that I can help you when he started me on treatment. And but you know, when you go through something like this, do you decide either you're going to be mean and arsenic and go on the same path you do? Or you think, you know, is there something more I can do? Has God given me a second chance for visa? Has he been giving me a recent? So you look around and you look at the things you can do. You look at the ways you can give back. And one of the things I started to sponsor was a an event called The Women of Distinction event for the YWCA where we honored women in our society because, you know, women still do not get the kudos that they deserve and need and even in this day and age, even in our lightened day and age, but so I decided that we were going to get back. You know, I sponsor the event. I was the main sponsor and a woman by the name of Harriet Kinka applied for one of the awards called the turning point awards. Now the turning point award was given for a woman that had really turned things around no carry. It was a very special lady. She was a wonder role model in New York City walking the cat werewolves and doing the things models do. But she grew tired of that. So she decided to turn away from modeling and become an accountant. So she went to the University of Calgary in Calgary, Alberta, to take up their second love. Their sheep met a very sadistic psychopath who ended up kidnapping or stabbing her leaving her for dead.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:15:28

Whoa, I just got goosebumps everywhere.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:15:31

So, Harriet met somebody during her rehab for map somehow she got to the hospital. She doesn't even know how she got to the house. Got to the hospital. And there she met a little girl by the name of Amber was a girl that was very special, who was in a wheelchair. She had lost use of both of her legs in a car accident, had cheese. And both of her parents were killed in that accident. But she was still as happy as a lark. And when she heard Harriet story she said to her yet, what are you hoping for? You got to let use your life to empower others and pass it on. So the reason why she had applied for the award at the YWCA woman of distinction was to meet me so that she could encourage me to write a book with her and that's where we wrote the book, the secrets to living a fantastic life. But in that, we basically talk about 13 Golden pearls in which we found to have 13 Golden pearls are you know a pearl is a very unique thing to know how a pearl forms,

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:16:43

I actually am wearing pearls today Tahitian pearls Yes.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:16:47

And this is the thing about Golden pearls exist in Tahiti, they just exist in the in the South Pacific. But they form because a grain of sand gets inside that the oyster shell. And instead of getting traumatized for it, they get walled off, and they produce this amazing material called luster that makes them beautiful. And a single solitary golden Pearl is valued at upwards of $10,000 because it's so unique and magnificent. So but the golden pearls we found inside of people's selves are even more magnificent because they are even more rare. And when you polish those and take those to heart, those golden pearls make your life magnificent. And there are 13 of them 13 Marvelous ones that everybody has inside of themselves.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:17:43

I you know, I I love your story. And I think so many people have struggled with health issues and not been able to know what they are and, you know, really suffered in that. And that was part of my story, too, of being chronically ill. And I'm so delighted that you got some answers. And you're still here, you know, this is like 1520 years later, Dr. Like, you're still here. And you know, now you're sharing a message. And, you know, I want to talk about you talked about, you know, that piece of depression. And I think many of the listeners can relate to this idea of being depressed or feeling depressed. And, you know, I can't even remember who told me this at one point, but this stuck with me. And she says Dion break down the word depressed. Like, say it slower. And I said, deep rest, deep rest. And so it turns my definition of depression into an invitation for deep rest.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:18:49

Yeah, and I think what depression does, in this reality, the reason why people go through that is because it's a preservative mechanism inside of people. It prevents people from getting hurt more, and that's why it's the or stayed as part of our lifes and things like night.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:19:10

I agree. I really love that you share that because I do think that it is a protection mechanism. But yet we give it such a bad rap. You know, and and so the invitation I have for people listening is to consider that, you know that energy of being depressed or feeling depression, to understand that this is an opportunity for you to go inside for you to explore those trenches a little bit. Because when we do amazing things happen. I mean, look at you, Dr. Lycka. You went through that depression, but you didn't you kept going, you know, you allowed yourself to keep finding potential solution. And I think it's that little bit of hope or belief that you know, you can get out of it again. And sometimes we miss that but you You can get out of it.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:20:01

Yeah. And I think the important things about our downtime is that our life is the are the keys to our success. If we don't have down times, we would never truly understand the successes we have.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:20:17

That's exactly we need the contrast.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:20:19

We need the contrast. So the depths of despair allows us to have the heights of exultation. That's really important for people to realize. So don't think that the challenges are devastating. Just think of them as challenges that you have along the way. And then you can climb out of those challenges. And that's why I tell my story so freely and evenly to everybody. Because I think everybody has that ability to climb out of those times when they're having difficulties, and they shouldn't use them as something that's really harming themselves. But something that's better than that.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:20:58

Yes, it's a leveraging of those experiences. And I know that you're a master of leveraging whatever experience comes your way. You know, you talked about a few things in your story. And I definitely think spirit was calling you. In your experience, you know.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:21:15

As I said, a parts of my life, I said, I had lost touch of that idea. The spirit was hearing me I didn't think he was hearing me. But you know, when you look back at the course that I've taken, the answer is certainly he was guiding me along the way and was totally guiding me throughout all this.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:21:37

Yeah.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:21:38

And it was true that his the the presence of the Spirit was there and out. I think people have to realize that sometimes the Spirit is guiding you, even when you don't know the direction that he's taking you on?

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:21:54

Yes. Oh, I love that. Because Spirit is guiding us even though we don't know the direction that it's taking us on. And you know, I think about you sponsoring that YMCA awards, like you inherit, Tinker, or not my first like, matching up, I wouldn't match you guys up in any way. It seems like a very odd pair. But once you stepped into that, and you met her, and you heard the story, and then shared your story, it was like, Oh, my gosh, this was a perfect pair. But that wouldn't have happened if you wouldn't have chosen to step into that role either. You know, and look at what you created.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:22:32

Exactly, we created a book that became a best selling book that became a podcast. And then it became a syndicated radio show, which literally hundreds of 1000s Millions listen to every month. And so it's it's become a formative force on people out there. And to help them live a fantastic life lives that they wouldn't live otherwise. So, again, this is with some direction, it certainly wasn't without direction.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:23:02

Right? Yes, exactly. Even though we didn't maybe notice the direction that we were being given. Right? It's so beautiful. And so you've really cracked some codes here in terms of living this fantastic life. And I do believe we all deserve to live a fantastic life. So doctor, like, can you pull us like maybe your three favorite pearls from your book or that really feel that you feel really make a difference in people's lives, because I'd love to give them some of those, that wisdom.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:23:33

You know, I'm gonna start with love. Because I think love is one of the most important things that we know. I think love is a very important thing. You know, there's two driving factors in everybody's life. One is love. And the other one is fear. So without love, I think you can never have the true things that come about. And people have to literally have love and no love. Without love, they will never grow further. And and I think love is is something that people need and need to live about. I'm just going to read a little quote here from the beginning of that chapter because it helps to personify that.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:24:19

Yes.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:24:20

I believe that dreaming is stronger than reality. Desire is more potent than half of the hope is more powerful than despair. Joy always triumphs over sorrel, that laughter is the ultimate cure for man's foibles. And I believe love is stronger than hate. And it's the greatest gift of all. How do I know? I've been fortunate to experience them all. Beautiful. So that is one of my favorite and then go into one little story and I'm not going to share Are the story there? Because I'd like everybody to get the book and read the story in a story of the shoebox. And it's a very fundament story that tells a story of a little girl and I heard her father and it's about the love between them.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:25:16

It's beautiful. Yeah, I can't wait. Can't wait to dive into that. I think I got a copy here somewhere I finished my reading. I picked it up a few times and then never finished it.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:25:27

Well, because you're a busy person.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:25:28

Well, you know, I need an IDT audiobooks now.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:25:33

Because you can read it in little bits and pieces.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:25:35

Exactly. It's perfect. It's perfect. I also had a quote this morning, and it goes something like, well, it's not a quote, it's kind of a story. But how was your love, love life, he said, it's wonderful. I said, my whole life is love. And so the point being, is that when we can allow ourselves to live in a state of love, you know, it's like, it elevates us to this, this space. You know, it brings us into a space where we can receive the abundance and we can have the joys and it's not just about receiving love. It's also about sharing that love to so I just thought that was really cute. Okay, what's another one? Dr. Lycka?

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:26:19

Well, I'm gonna go to one that I really like. And it's about enthusiasm. And I'm going to tell you a story of Fred carpenter friend was a carpenter. And he literally lived a life where he couldn't do it any longer. He'd lived the life all his life, and he couldn't do it. You know, he said, pass, I can't do this anymore. I've lived this for for years, and I just can't do this anymore. So what happened next was he went to his boss, and the boss said, okay for him. I understand. He said, But you know, I'm devastated. Can you do one more thing for me before that happened before you leave? And Fred said, Of course, he said, I will gladly do something for you. This is the only job I've ever had. And I would gladly do anything for you. So Fred, the Boston Okay. Can you build me just one more house, your master carpenter, only you can do this. And puts it Okay, I'll do it. But he did be grudgingly drained is asked to work every day. Early, he got there and just got it done. But at the end, a miracle happened. The House passed inspection. So he went back to the boss and said, Okay, boss, I'm done. He gave the boss the keys. And the boss said, Hold the president. We're going to have a little party. So they crack the champagne. They have the caviar. And then he said hold before Fred leaves. I'm going to give a little speech and gather around everybody. He said to everybody, friend, this is your last day. I'm going to be very sad. But I know you're going to be happy. You're going into retirement, he said. And as a token of my appreciation, I'm going to give you the keys to the last house shoe ever built.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:28:28

Oh, wow.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:28:30

Now the reason why I tell you that story DeeAnne is because enthusiasm is not a Monday thing. It's not a Tuesday thing. It's not a Friday thing is what you bring to the house to gain everyday and your enthusiasm that makes the the game that much more worth playing. Bring that. That's the game changer. That's the changer that makes all the difference.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:28:59

Wow. Little bit of enthusiasm goes a long way, doesn't it? Oh, it's beautiful. It's beautiful. I'm going to wrap things up because I'm being mindful of our time here. But I know we can talk all day. If people want to know more about those golden pearls they can pick up the secrets to living a fantastic life

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:29:21

Yes it's available on Amazon and that's where most people go but also you can go to my website, DrAllenLycka.com, d r a l l e n lycka.com. And I'm sure you'll find out more you can find out more about the services I offer there.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:29:38

Yes and is the radio show on there as well Dr. Lycka so they can

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:29:43

Definitely there and all the things we offer including coaching, etc.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:29:47

Amazing. That's wonderful. It has been such a pleasure. I think we might have to do this again. I feel like we've got so much more that we can be talking about. But this has been just a wonderful production to our audience in terms of who you are and what you bring to the table. And most certainly love and enthusiasm are two of those brilliant things. So, Dr. Lycka, thank you so much for being with us.

Dr. Allen Steven Lycka: 00:30:11

Thank you for having me. Have a fantastic day DeeAnne.

DeeAnne Riendeau: 00:30:14

You too. Bye, everyone. We'll see you next time.