How it's Possible — Embracing Yourself Through Your Cancer

We get caught up in our labels, expectations, and ideas which are outside of who we are on the inside, causing us to lose track of what’s important. 

The remedy for that is to get still and sit with yourself. Look at your situation and accept it for what it is. From there, it’s about owning your honest feelings about that—all of them. Only then, can you have any real idea of where you are. Speaking and expressing your truth is healing and powerful to hear. It’s from that place that we begin to understand our needs need and what to surrender to in order to make the decision to stay where we are, or to move forward in health. 

If that doesn’t seem like a natural thing for you to do, that’s ok. Some people do therapy, join groups, or listen to podcasts. Others find hobbies and activities that allow the release of what’s stressful by going deep into expressing themselves, whether that’s music, writing, or other forms of artistic creation. Decide for yourself.

For some insight on what might work best for you, or to at least give you some context, consider that much of your ability or style of how you may approach relaxation is likely tied to your childhood or your past. That will give you some perspective on, and view of your style.

I’ve accepted that as an artist, that sensibility is in everything I do and touch. Even in my birth sign of Pisces, I am the structured and organized linear personality, as well as the free-spirited, spacey, and emotional one, all at the same time. Once I stopped fighting my nature, I began to understand how deeply rooted that is in me, and I was then able to embrace what I had always secretly loved about myself. I learned how to use my eclectic sensibilities as a benefit and superpower.

Rather than forcing myself to fit into the boxes that made me feel less than, or cramped, this reality began to expand in my creative work and I began to use it within my yoga practice, teaching, and personal philosophy.  Embrace yourself.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the “Acceptance of cancer, or making peace with the disease, is one factor that may play an important role in reducing patients’ distress…” Acceptance also differs from a fighting spirit. In the context of cancer, having a fighting spirit involves viewing the illness as a challenge, maintaining an optimistic outlook, and working towards beating the disease (Livneh, 2000; Watson et al., 1988).” With acceptance, the final stage of grief, energy can be put towards focusing on, and supporting your health.

Common to the multiple survivors that I spoke to for the writing of my book, was the realization that accepting their cancer was key and that while our cancer is part of our story, it certainly does not define us and we are therefore motivated to find our way.

I too agree that cancer is never really gone from our concern, and memory. That, and what comes along with it is not easy to accept.” Will it come back? Look at what I missed, lost, or didn’t do because I was dealing with my cancer.” Unlike any other stressful experience, many things remind us of cancer and it’s triggering. Most relevant for me was realizing my life struggles, cancer included, required that I face them head on in order to circumvent the occurrence of other problems. Cancer tends to diminish your ability to maintain the quality of your sanity, your livelihood, as well as your sense of self.

*This has been Excerpt #4 + pre-view of my book. Join my list for updates and download my free guide.