Focus Magazine of SWFL Cheers To Your Style | Page 120
Achieving
Personal Harmony
FAMILY FEATURES
What if after surviving your first cancer diagnosis at the age of 51, you
were re-diagnosed just 18 months later? Metastatic colorectal cancer
patient Dave Johnson experienced that first-hand, and was initially reluctant and scared to tell his family, friends and co-workers.
However, he soon learned two important lessons – that he had more
support around him than he thought, and that he could control his lifestyle and personal harmony. Now at the age of 53, Johnson, a full-time
banker, has discovered a new sense of inner well-being and, according
to his physician, is again cancer free.
Many people find achieving personal harmony and balance difficult –
the demands and stresses of everyday life often impede the ability to
find inner peace. For those facing a cancer diagnosis, achieving that
balance may feel impossible. And, yet, it is as important, if not more,
for people living with cancer to find and maintain a sense of inner
harmony.
After being diagnosed with an advanced form of colorectal cancer,
Johnson knew he had to fight the disease head on, from both a medical and mental perspective. Johnson worked with his physician to
choose his treatment, and made the conscious decision to focus on
areas of his life he felt he could control.
“Setting goals and priorities, as well as staying active, became very
important to me, and helped me accept my diagnosis as my ‘new normal,’” said Johnson. “The ability to fulfill goals and keep both my mind
and body busy helped me focus on the sweet spots in life that give me
strength and joy.”
Johnson also said expressing his emotions was important to regaining
his balance. “There were many days when I could have said ‘why me’
and focused my energy on feelings of anger and resentment,” said
Johnson. “I’d let myself experience those feelings but I made a point
of expressing those emotions and then moving on, which helped me
maintain mental clarity. Additionally, my faith helped me accept the
challenges I was going through.”
Tips to achieving personal harmony and balance during cancer include:
• Express your emotions: Make a point of expressing your emotions
before they start to have a negative impact.
• Set goals and priorities: Focus on the areas you can control and set
out to fulfill the goals most important in your personal and work life.
• Keep active: Find activities to keep both your body and mind busy
that you also enjoy.
• Enjoy the company of loved ones: Surround yourself with positive,
supportive relationships, whet \