Why Mindset is Important: How to Empower Yourself Through Cancer

Your mindset is one of the most powerful forces when it comes to navigating the ups and downs of life. It is especially important when you are faced with challenging obstacles like a cancer diagnosis or other life changing events. Maintaining a strong and positive mindset during tumultuous times can be daunting. 

Embracing a resilient mindset can help turn a tornado into a gentle breeze. Let’s explore why mindset is critical, especially when facing cancer.

What Mindset Means?

Mindset simply means the thought process that shapes how you respond to situations. Your mindset affects your feelings, emotions and state of mind. A positive mindset will foster happiness, joy and strength.  A negative mindset, however, makes it much more difficult to face challenges and can lead to anxiety and stress.

Mindset and Cancer

Getting a cancer diagnosis can be shocking and overwhelming, kind of like an 8.4 magnitude earthquake while you are driving to work!  At first it feels impossible to even think clearly with all of the appointments, scans and surgeries. Developing a positive mindset can be challenging but there are many steps you can take to empower yourself with strength and thrive.

A positive mindset when battling cancer can play a significant role in foster the following:

• emotional resilience
• enhanced coping strategies
• improved health outcomes
• a shift in focus on what you can and cannot control

Strategies for Cultivating a Positive Mindset

Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful force that allows you to shift your focus from the negativity associated with cancer to abundance. By appreciating the positive aspects of life, even if they are small, you will be able to connect more with joy and happiness. Keep a gratitude journal and write anything positive that you have in your life. If you are not a writer, just go through the same process in your head and maintain your focus on those thoughts when things are getting tough.

Focus on Things you CAN Control

It is essential to focus on what you can control and not what you cannot. Constantly worrying about what might happen is counterproductive and can send you spiraling into anxiety and depression. Trust me, I have been there, done that!  You can control your diet, lifestyle and your behaviors. Instead of spending hours on the internet looking up your prognosis or other related things about your diagnosis, try using that time on more positive activities like exercise, spending time with family or engaging in a hobby you love.

Focus on Self-Compassion

Give yourself permission to take care of YOU! Self-care is vital for healing and fostering a positive mindset. Cancer treatments can be exhausting and draining. Treat yourself with kindness and recognize that it is OK to feel vulnerable. If you need to spend a whole day watching Netflix and eating Chick-fil-A, go for it! Whatever works, just do it!

Embrace Change and Adaptability

If there is one thing I learned with my two battles with breast cancer it's that things can change in a split second. You might not be able to have treatment one day because your counts are too low or maybe changes need to be made in your treatment regimen. It is important to be PATIENT and adapt to your new lifestyle. Cancer may require changes in your routine and/or lifestyle. By viewing change as an opportunity for growth, you will be able to adapt more easily and find new ways to thrive.

Surround Yourself with Positivity

Having a support system that lifts you up can help foster a positive mindset. Beware of the "Debbie Downers" and limit interactions with those who do not align with your goal of strength and empowerment. It will make all the difference in the world!

Embrace Purpose

One of the most powerful forces in fostering a positive mindset is purpose. Making others a priority can fill your heart and soul and lift your spirits. Sometimes we get trapped in focusing solely on ourselves and our own challenges. It can be anything from volunteering your time to being a peer support person for someone newly diagnosed with the same health challenge. The point is to take the focus off of yourself and put it onto someone else who needs help.

Conclusion

While a positive mindset doesn’t completely wipe away the challenges of cancer, it can help to transform your journey into one strength and empowerment.  It allows you to find purpose in adversity and to discover inner strength you never knew you had. As you start your journey, remember that you are the captain of your own ship and you can choose where it will lead you.