How to Stay Motivated When Faced With Cancer

According to the facts on cancer from the Center for Disease Control, over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year.  While modern medicine and advancements in technology are better equipped to treat cancer, it’s still the second leading cause of death in the United States.

These unsettling statistics can strike fear and despair in the heart of anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer.  Thankfully, cancer doesn’t have to completely destroy your life, and there are ways to still enjoy life even when faced with cancer. If you or a loved one is struggling to stay motivated while dealing with cancer, here are a few tips to help you stay balanced and positive.

Get Support

Every cancer patient will endure treatment differently.  However, studies reveal that cancer patients who have a strong support system in place are more likely to stay motivated and maintain a positive outlook on life than those who are isolated.

Cancer is a terrifying prospect, and no one should have to face it alone.  Between grappling with the fear of dying, coping with cancer treatments, and struggling to handle daily life, living with cancer can be exhausting, to say the least.  But if you have supportive friends, family, or a cancer survivor group to lean on, you are in a far better position to move through recovery with an elevated attitude.

Explore What You Love

The key to staying motivated when faced with cancer is keeping your attention focused on things you deeply love and savor.  For instance, if gardening is your passion, try to make every effort to devote more time to that.  Or, perhaps travel is your number one favorite thing to do.  If so, make it a priority to travel, while you’re coping with cancer.

Yes, it’s true that your physical energy might be drained.  It may also be true that finances might be tight, making it difficult to find the funds to indulge in your favorite things.  However, you can always ask for assistance from friends or family to help you through this challenging time.  You might be surprised at how much your loved ones want to help you and will go to great lengths to support your passions.

Nurture Yourself

No matter what type of cancer diagnosis you have, your body is going to experience changes.  It’s important to acknowledge these transitions and accommodate your physical needs.  For instance, you can’t be expected to run a marathon while in the throes of full-on chemotherapy.  You need to nurture yourself and be patient with yourself if you are experiencing temporary dips in energy or stamina.

With that in mind, you may want to think about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Perhaps you already eat right, but you might want to revamp your diet to tailor to your unique needs while recovering from cancer.   There are many medical studies that indicate adopting certain healthy foods can actually positively influence the recovery and survival of cancer.

While diet is an essential part of nurturing yourself during recovery, you should also consider getting enough rest and relaxation.  As mentioned, your body is going through a lot of transitions, so you’ve got to listen when your body needs to rest. This might seem counterintuitive if you’re trying to get motivated during your illness.  However, adequate rest is a healing necessity and will allow you to regain energy when you need it.

Control the Things You Can

You might be familiar with the common entreaty requesting the “serenity to accept the things that cannot be changed, the courage to change the things that can be changed and the wisdom to know the difference.”  It’s a common supplication for spiritually-minded and secular people alike.  In terms of staying motivated while faced with cancer, this statement can make all the difference.

To elaborate, you cannot control the fact you have cancer.  However, there are things in your life you can control.  For example, you can choose to control your diet, modify your attitude, change your perspective, and choose to appreciate loved ones.  There are a myriad of actions within your locus of control.  The more you yield your power, the more you will obtain a sense of independence and stay motivated – even while coping with cancer.