#3 Jenn's Top 10 List For What to Do When Hearing You Have Cancer
Dec 28, 2014- Do not read anything online
Looking up information online requires much more than just deciphering which answers are the best responses for your questions. Sources need to be verified. Are they credible? Who created the site you’re getting your information from…a credible source or a crazy guy in the basement? If there is no author, do you really want to take advice from someone who is not willing to attach their name to what they wrote? Is it updated information?
Reading about your situation online can send you into a panic very quickly. Stick to the experts and listen to your healthcare professionals and keep your spirits high. Don’t clog them with irrelevant rants from the Internet.
- Stay positive even when your mind strays
It is so easy to go straight to the negatives, the “What if’s” and the “Why me’s”. Instead, how about giving “I’m going to be ok” a try? You wouldn’t be human if your mind didn’t wander, but we also wouldn’t be human if we couldn’t sense when we are headed in a negative direction.
Make the conscious choice to catch yourself before going down the negative path quickly SHIFT your thoughts to something more positive: I am so fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends. I can get through this with grace. I am strong and I am able. I have all that I need.
- Surround yourself with things you love
People, music, TV, movies, images, objects. There is no room in your world for things that don’t make you feel fabulous and beautiful in your not so beautiful-est of times.
- Get rid of everything that doesn’t serve you, including people
Enough said. (See People under Part I of Your Journey to Wellness for some help with this.)
- Honor your body
Your body, mind and spirit are experiencing some pretty heavy-duty trauma right now-poor things. Take care of them as if you were taking care of your best friend. Eat well, exercise, quiet your mind. (See Meditations in the menu bar for help with quieting your mind.)
- Change your language.
Your words become real – say things like “I’m not well…” or “When I wasn’t’ well”. It’s best to put well out into the universe rather than sick and ill. The universe responds to your language. (Have fun with vision boards in Part III Creating Your Vision and focus on offering your preferences to the universe and enjoy being patient as you listen and watch the signals and signs begin to appear.)
- Trust and believe in your doctors…
and nurses and technicians; or look for ones you can trust and believe in. Ask for personal recommendations. They’re the best kind! If you’re not feeling listened to, if you’re being rushed, run the other way and look for health care professionals who will take their time with you. You deserve to be heard, validated and comforted at this time and always. Except nothing less.
- Imagine what life looks like when all of this is over
What are you doing? Where are you going? What are you wearing? What are you saying? Who are you saying it to? Who are you with? What have you created for yourself? Your family? Your friends?
- Surround yourself with inspiration
You can find great strength in others who have experienced so much more. Their stories will propel you forward. Music, photos, quotes, places, images, memorabilia, they all work to inspire us. Surround yourself with all that makes you YOU. What has shaped you?
Share your story! Sharing is the best medicine for you and for others. It helps you to process your journey as it helps others to realize they are not alone. Sharing gives others hope.
- Allow others to do for you
This is a hard one, especially if you are one to take care of everything, including others. Situations like these are humbling. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. It’s a learning curve but revel in it. It’s a beautiful place.
