Taffie Lynn Butters is a board-certified health coach at The After Cancer. She's a breast cancer survivor and is passionate about helping others recovering from cancer with lifestyle interventions.
Cancer is an emotional roller coaster
Cancer is an emotional roller coaster. It’s almost like you go through a grieving process of disbelief, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. If you have been on this roller coaster you recognize the grief. But what about what happens after acceptance, and what about the emotions of the past that you need to release?
How the mind-body connection affects healing
The mind/body connection is a huge factor in healing. The environment in which your cells are chronically exposed, feed and direct their behavior. Meaning that if you are chronically stressed or in a negative state, so are your cells. Dr. Bruce H. Lipton describes the connection in his book The Biology of Belief, “Thoughts, the mind’s energy, directly influence how the physical brain controls the body’s physiology.” He goes on to describe, “The fact is that harnessing the power of your mind can be more effective than the drugs you have been programmed to believe you need.” Wow, that’s powerful stuff!
Thought patterns are passed down in families. You can see them repeated in illnesses. Although we may be predisposed to certain diseases, they are not activated in our DNA without the right conditions. For instance, you may a family history of diabetes or cancer, but the symptom of diabetes or cancer is not activated without the right conditions. However, eating patterns and ways of managing stress are taught and passed down in families, so it’s very likely to develop similar diseases.
The influence of thoughts in healing
Breaking the cycle of these patterns is possible. Lifestyle interventions transform health. When something as big as cancer creeps into our lives, it’s often time to review and access our habits. Negative thoughts and releasing emotions of the past are a part of healing. Using powerful daily affirmations can literally rewire your brain and put your body on a path to healing.
Affirmations will look different for everyone. You can make up your own or start with written ones. Regardless, work with the ones that ring true for you. The ones that you read, and you feel it in your soul. Think about where will you use these affirmations – on a walk or before you get out of bed? Pick a time of the day and be consistent. Make a commitment to yourself and repeat these statements over and over. Daily affirmation is an act of self-love. Your body is listening, and eventually, you will automatically default to these thought patterns. You will change the cycle and help heal your body!
Here are some ideas to get you started:
I am in control of my mind and my body.
My body is healed and restored.
I release all causes of dis-ease from my past and now move into a state of health and happiness.
I am getting better moment by moment day by day.
I love who I am as a person.