- Each day, tell yourself you can handle this challenge. When you start thinking about it, consider the many people who have it harder than you, i.e., people who are dying of starvation, living in a war zone, people, due to lack of human rights, have no freedom.
- Always try to look for the silver lining. Perhaps some blue sky on a rainy day, a baby giggling in the waiting room, a lovely gesture from a person you love, going for a lovely scenic drive and watching the wind blowing through the trees, hearing one of your favourite records being playing on the radio. Start looking for that ray of hope in dealing with your situation.
Choose to be positive. Remember attitude is a choice! If you choose to be negative, you will feel miserable and lonely and it will affect those around you. If you feel up beat, you will experience wonderful times amongst the hard times.
- Appreciate the visual tools of encouragement from family and friends, i.e their cards and beautiful words. Place them in a position where they are always on view.
- If you know someone that has had and beaten cancer, be inspired by them. Try to emulate them and be happy.
- Wherever possible, try and view life with a sense of humour. Although treatment is a serious matter, a smile a day is worth so much:
- Forcing yourself to smile can improve your mood
- Smiling is contagious
- Smiling relieves stress
- Smiling and improve your physical health
- Do not let the disease win. Be enthusiastic and determined to win this battle.
- Have Hope – it may take time to feel hopeful, but there are many reasons why you should. There are millions of people who have had cancer and are alive today. Your chances of living and beating the disease are better now that they have ever been before. People with the disease can lead active lives, even during treatment. Some doctors believe that being positive and hopeful can help your body deal with cancer.
Other ways of staying positive through cancer treatment
