Healing Mindset
After the initial shock , grief and a lot of googling about my diagnosis in 2017, I had to train myself to have a healing mindset. While it was not easy, I just had to work on it by reading positive stories and listening to cancer coaches like Leslie.
I met Leslie Nance online through one of her groups. She is a cancer coach,Cancer nutrition specialist and a cancer survivor herself. I had the opportunity to speak with her on the phone and she is such an inspiration! I have been following her for a few months now and her weekly live podcasts is something I look forward to every week. She is funny, smart, inspirational and motivational!
Leslie Nance talks about the “Healing Mindset” on her latest #thecancercoachtalks training. The healing mindset is very real and an important component within your cancer-fighting toolbox. A #mindset is the way you look at everything (your cancer, your relationships, your body) and your attitude towards it. The healing mindset is your attitude towards the idea that your body can heal itself.
There are three factors constituting the healing mindset:
I think they are interconnected and sort of overlap
1. EXPECTATIONS
Expecting things to work is very important .It could be something as simple as a diet or a treatment for an illness.I remember when I was going for my radiation, I came across many wonderful women in the waiting room and we used to sit and chat, laugh and talk about different things from movies to recipes:)We all had one thing in common…we expected the treatment to work!
If I am taking supplements,doing the diet, juicing ,yoga ,excercise etc I should believe it is going to work.Do I have occasional doubts about what I am doing? Of course I do!! I just have to keep reminding myself that whatever I am doing is worthwhile and is helping me heal.
My faith has been a big part of this because whenever I doubt I just pray and leave it to God to work his wonders.
2. HOPE
One of the first things I did after I was diagnosed was add the words ‘have hope’ in my password to my hospital portal.(ok now I have to change my password…lol)I don’t know why I thought to do it but I am so glad I did it! So every time I logged on to the portal (which was not my favorite thing to do) it reminded me to have hope and be optimistic about my future.Optimism doesn't just boost your mood. According to new research, a glass-half-full attitude also strengthens the immune system.Who doesn’t want that, right?Especially if you are going through an illness.
I also make plans or long term goals which helps me look into the future.It could be a short term plan like doing a project in the house in a few days, going out with friends in a few weeks or taking a vacation in a few months.This is what I meant when I said I ‘trained myself’.I somehow sneak in hope wherever and whenever I can.
3. POSITIVITY
This is easier said than done! There is so much negative conotation about the Big C its almost impossible to be positive about it.Take for example the shows on TV, five of my favorite shows I’m watching right now has someone with cancer.Come on now, give me a break:)
During the earlier course of my journey someone at the hospital waiting room asked me what was my prognosis.To me it was like asking …how long do you have, to live? I was a little shaken by this question because I was still a newbee so to speak and trying to be this positive, hopeful person who expected total healing.While I am usually dumbfounded by questions like this sometimes I come up with a good comeback he he….If you are wondering what I said to her..it went something like this' ‘Oh I’m not looking at the prognosis, I am just doing what I have to do and hope to heal’.That’s exactly what I plan to do!!