I failed to plan for cancer on my ‘Year Ahead Planner’ 20 years ago.
Hearing that diagnosis freed me to immediately push everything else on my To do list aside. From the get-go I was determined that I would overcome it and also not be defined by it.
So as both a therapist, coach and someone who has navigated several severe illnesses I feel able to offer the advice that you are more than your diagnosis or illness be it physical or mental.
Life often presents us with unexpected challenges that may lead us to believe these trials define our identity. But it’s vital to recognise that you extend far beyond these circumstances.
Some ways to navigate this and own your life again are as follows:
🔥Your Life as a Storybook: Picture your life as a book, where you are the author. Within its pages, there may be chapters detailing setbacks such as health issues, but these challenges do not constitute your entire story.
Your life story is a one-of-a-kind creation, as distinct as your own fingerprint. It encompasses your aspirations, your joys, your passions, and the unique individual you are evolving into.
🔥You Are Not Your Illness: Think of it as having a close friend who occasionally faces tough times but possesses many other remarkable qualities. Your illness is just one aspect of your life, not the whole picture.
Be careful how you speak about your illness. Using “my” to describe your challenges is profoundly impactful.
Consider the difference between “my cancer” and “the cancer.” Possessing these challenges as your own, rather than being possessed by them, is an essential part of reclaiming your sense of power.
🔥Navigating the Tough Chapters: It’s entirely normal if some parts of your life story appear challenging right now. Your narrative is an ongoing journey, and it holds many beautiful chapters that await discovery. It may not seem like it now but trust me it’s true.
🌳Like this poem:
Strong trees do not grow with ease.
The stronger the wind
The stronger the trees
🌳Even in tough times you are laying deep roots to give you more strength to grown into the exceptional person you are and continue to become.
📖 Your story is a testament to your resilience, your dreams, and your indomitable spirit.
Keep going. Keep writing your remarkable story, one chapter at a time.
