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Breast Cancer Reimagined
The story you tell yourself about your breast cancer journey shapes your entire experience. Whether you’ve recently been diagnosed or are in the midst of treatment, Breast Cancer Reimagined is your podcast for writing this new chapter of your life.
Breast Cancer Reimagined
Unveiling Your Inner Strengths (Mini Workshop)
This episode is a mini workshop and includes a Worksheet so you can follow along.
Discover how your character strengths shape your breast cancer journey and enhance your resilience. Through self-reflection and practical activities, we explore tools that can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and joy.
• Discusses the importance of character strengths in personal growth
• Introduces the VIA strengths survey for personalized insights
• Explores “strength spotting” as a self-reflective exercise
• Highlights the four subsets of character strengths
• Emphasizes the role of virtues in supporting one’s cancer journey
• Encourages exploring strengths to foster resilience and joy
• Provides actionable steps to utilize strengths daily
List of 24 Character Strengths:
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The story you tell yourself about your breast cancer journey shapes your entire experience, whether you've been recently diagnosed or are in the midst of treatment. Breast Cancer Reimagined is your podcast for writing this new chapter of your life. Hi, I'm Shannon, your host, and I'm so glad you're here. As a proud two-time breast cancer survivor, I'm on a mission to help women like you reimagine how you navigate your breast cancer journey by helping you shift your mindset, activate your strengths and uncover deeper meaning in your journey. I'm creating future episodes to address your unique challenges, but I need your input. What are your biggest questions or struggles when it comes to your journey? Share them with me by completing the Google form that's linked in the show notes. Your voice matters and together we can create something truly powerful. I can't wait to hear from you. Welcome to the Breast Cancer Reimagined Podcast. Hi, I'm Shannon, your host. Thanks for joining. I'm a proud two-time breast cancer survivor and I'm on a mission to help women shift their mindset, activate their strengths and uncover deeper meaning in their breast cancer journey. I'm so excited about this episode Unveiling your Inner Strengths a journey through your character strengths profile.
Speaker 1:I will guide you in interpreting your profile by sharing stories, self-reflection activities and journaling exercises. Download the worksheet and the show notes so you can follow along. This approach is all about helping you build self-awareness and discover more about your character strengths. Through these techniques, you can deepen your understanding and make your strengths more tangible. Your character strengths Through these techniques, you can deepen your understanding and make your strengths more tangible in your life. So what are character strengths? Character strengths are the positive traits that make you you. They're universal traits like bravery, gratitude and creativity that help you navigate life's ups and downs. Now, these aren't skills you need to learn. They're already inside of you, waiting to be activated, waiting to be expressed. You can get your personalized character strengths profile by completing the VIA survey, a free, scientifically validated assessment created by the VIA Institute on Character, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing the science of character strengths to the world. There's a link to the VIA survey in the show notes. Once you complete the survey, download your profile, then take the time to read the definitions of each strength and explore wherever your mind takes you and really take in the strengths. All right, so before we dive into your profile, let's start with an activity called strength spotting in yourself. I'll start by sharing an example, then I'll walk you through the steps so that you can complete the activity for yourself. Here we go.
Speaker 1:In October 2021, I got the dreaded phone call. I was told that I have a recurrence of breast cancer. Now it was time for me to meet with the surgeon and I was scared. The diagnosis suddenly felt real I have breast cancer again. I went to my husband and I cried in his arms. He hugged me tight and said three words I love you. That really helped me to relax and to feel more calm. And then, about 15 minutes later, we got on our one wheels and rode to Stanford Medical Center, about two and a half miles away. Now, when I ride my one wheel, I sing out loud and I dance. That day I was listening to the song Invincible by Kelly Clarkson. I felt so empowered and as people saw me writing, they waved, they gave me the thumbs up and some people even mirrored my dance moves, and I remember thinking they have no idea that I have breast cancer.
Speaker 1:When we arrived at Stanford, I had to kiss my husband goodbye. It was during COVID and he couldn't come inside with me, so I carried my one wheel into Stanford and I had a huge smile on my face. I made my way to the exam room and I set the one wheel down in the corner. Shortly the surgeon came in. She introduced herself and then she said something that shocked me. She said you ride a one wheel. I couldn't believe it. People have seen the one wheel before, but a lot of people didn't know what it was. They didn't know what it was called. But then she told me that her husband went to college with the guy that created it. What a small world. But you want to know the best part. She said that she wanted to record a video of me riding the one wheel in the office so she could send it to the guy that created it. What an exciting beginning to my breast cancer journey. There's a link to that video in the show notes.
Speaker 1:Now I'm going to spot a few of the character strengths in that story. So the first character strength zest. Riding my one wheel, singing and dancing to the empowering song Invincible helped me to tap into my zest for life. Even though I was dealing with a difficult diagnosis, I found energy and joy in riding my one wheel and that really lifted my spirits and gave me strength. Another strength is bravery Riding my one wheel and walking into the medical center showed my bravery. I was facing the challenges ahead while staying true to who I am. And then hope. As I rode, I saw people cheering me on, which filled me with hope. Even in uncertainty, I stayed optimistic and focused on the positive Gratitude. I focused on the positive moments, like the waves from strangers and the connection with my surgeon. These small gestures filled me with gratitude and helped fuel my resilience Prudence. I'm a safe rider. I wore protective gear and paid attention to my surroundings, such as pedestrians on the trail, traffic and road conditions. Lastly, curiosity Riding my one wheel to my doctor's appointment was a unique way for me to get to my appointment. Now. These strengths helped to guide me through the challenge of meeting my surgeon for the first time, allowing me to face the situation with intention, empowerment and joy.
Speaker 1:Now it's your turn to explore how your strengths are already guiding you in your breast cancer journey. Strength spotting in yourself is your first activity, and the purpose of this activity is to help you see how you're already using your character strengths. Here are the steps. Number one reflect on a challenge in your breast cancer journey that you feel proud of overcoming. Write it as a story with a clear beginning, middle and end, and two with your character strengths profile in hand. Go through your story and pinpoint the strengths you displayed. Three journal about how these strengths helped you succeed or make a positive impact on someone else. Have fun with this activity.
Speaker 1:Now we're going to move into interpreting your profile. Now the purpose is to really help you build self-awareness and to explore your character strengths. By becoming more aware of these strengths, you can use them more intentionally to navigate your breast cancer journey. This is really foundational because awareness helps to break through something called strengths blindness. Strengths blindness is when you don't recognize or value your own strengths. And this may happen because you feel that your strengths, they're so natural to you that it can be easy to take them for granted. And another reason is because we may be so focused on overcoming weaknesses that we neglect to focus on our strengths and that makes it harder to see them. So take a look at your profile, make sure you read the definitions of each strength and explore wherever your mind takes you. Really take it in. It's really interesting because people often are surprised by their via survey results and it's normal to feel a wide range of emotions, from disappointment to excitement.
Speaker 1:What is your initial reaction to your character strengths profile? I'll share my reaction to my profile. As an example, I was really proud that zest was in my top five because my energy and enthusiasm is something that I really love about myself. I was excited that gratitude was also in my top five because I'm always talking about how I'm grateful for the different things in my life. I'm always looking for the good in situations. I was disappointed because I was looking at judgment as a weakness. It was close to the bottom of my profile and then I also felt a little confused. I was confused that bravery was number 24 after my second breast cancer journey, because I thought bravery would be higher on my profile, but it was at the very bottom. Just know that whatever your reaction is to your profile, it's perfectly fine. This is a journey of self-discovery. What new possibilities and insights might you uncover by approaching your character strengths profile with curiosity?
Speaker 1:Now we're going to take a look at the four subsets of strengths that make up your profile and why they matter. So the first one we're going to look at are signature strengths. Signature strengths are your core strengths that feel most authentic to you. Your signature strengths are your superpowers On your profile. They are your top five strengths. Your signature strengths are essential. They are a part of your identity, how you see yourself. Signature strengths are also energizing. They give you a boost whenever you use them. And, lastly, signature strengths are effortless. They come naturally to you. Engaging your signature strengths more often and in new ways is one of your biggest growth opportunities.
Speaker 1:Here's reflection question number one Look at your top five strengths from your VIA survey results and pick one strength that truly feels like a signature strength. Think of instances where you've applied this strength in various aspects of your life, perhaps work, home, social situations, managing your health or in your daily routines. Managing your health or in your daily routines. Consider how this strength brings positivity to your life. How do you feel when you use it and what positive results does it help you achieve? I'll share an example using one of my signature strengths gratitude. I use gratitude in my daily routine by writing down three things I am thankful for each day and why they matter to me. I also make a point to express gratitude to those people in my life that make a difference, like my husband for his thoughtful gestures, or the Amazon delivery driver who brings our groceries because I don't want to go to the grocery store, or the technologist who helps me to feel at ease during an MRI At work. I would use my gratitude to express thanks to coworkers as we collaborated on projects and overcame roadblocks. When I focus on gratitude, I notice that it helps me to feel more connected to others and it fosters a sense of community and support.
Speaker 1:Now we're going to look at the second subset of character strengths. These strengths are called middle strengths and they are numbers six through 19 on your profile. These strengths are present in you, but may not come as naturally or be as frequently expressed as your top strengths. Why do these strengths matter? Middle strengths really add balance and flexibility to your life. They give you more tools to handle challenges and opportunities. Reflection question number two which middle strength has already been helping you in your breast cancer journey and which middle strength would you like to explore further to support you in new ways? I'll share an example with one of my middle strengths love of learning. Now, my love of learning strength has been a powerful ally in navigating my breast cancer journey by embracing new knowledge such as mindfulness and character strengths. By embracing new knowledge, such as mindfulness and character strengths, I've empowered myself with tools and insights that enhance my coping strategies and personal growth. This strength not only provides me with valuable resources, but it also helps me to maintain a sense of curiosity and engagement, supporting my resilience and adaptability through challenging times susceptibility through challenging times. Now the middle strength I want to explore further in my breast cancer journey is leadership, because I'm passionate about sharing what I've learned in my breast cancer journey to help other women thrive in their journey. This reminds me of one of my favorite quotes by Adam Grant. He says when you help others in the same way that you've been hurt, not only does it give your life meaning, but it gives your suffering meaning. I just love that quote.
Speaker 1:Now we'll move to the third subset of character strengths lesser strengths. Now, lesser strengths are number 20 through 24 on your profile, and I just want to be clear your lesser strengths are not weaknesses. The VIA survey only measures strengths. So everything on your profile is a strength, even lesser strengths. So lesser strengths are strengths that you use less often and they also can be strengths that you find more challenging. Now remember the strengths at the top of our profile, our signature strengths, our top five strengths. They are energizing to use, they're essential to who we are and they're pretty effortless for us to use. So now I want you to contrast that with lesser strengths. Lesser strengths are less energizing to use, they may take more effort and they're not as essential to your identity as your other strengths. And why does this matter? Your lesser strengths are growth opportunities and can be intentionally cultivated, but again, they are not weaknesses.
Speaker 1:Reflection question number three which lesser strength have you already drawn on, even in small ways, during your breast cancer journey, and which lesser strength would you like to explore further to grow and support yourself in new ways? I'll share an example. The lesser strength that I have drawn on is bravery and self-regulation. So, for example, when I had an MRI the very first time, I was really nervous about being in that enclosed space and it's really loud, so I took the anti-anxiety medication. But the next time I had an MRI, I decided you know what I'm going to call on my bravery, my self-regulation, and I'm not going to use the medication. And so instead, what I did is I focused on breathing techniques to help me stay calm during my MRI, and it worked. The lesser strength I'd like to further explore is prudence. Exploring. Prudence feels important to me now, post-treatment, and it will help me thoughtfully plan for my regular medical checkups. It will also help me to maintain my wellness routine. I walk every day and it will also help me to prioritize self-care. This approach will help me to navigate post-treatment with more confidence and peace of mind.
Speaker 1:Now we're going to move to the fourth subset of character strengths, and these are called phasic strengths. A phasic strength can be a middle or a lesser strength. A phasic strength is a strength that emerges in specific situations. These are strengths that help us to rise to the occasion. Why does this matter? Phasic strengths are really context-driven and they help you to see how adaptable and resourceful you really are. Reflection question number four Think of a time during your breast cancer journey when you used a strength that's not usually your go-to strength. How did it help you and what did you learn about yourself? During my breast cancer journey, I tapped into a strength I don't usually rely on a lesser strength called self-regulation. Rely on a lesser strength called self-regulation.
Speaker 1:Being in menopause, I get to experience hot flashes and night sweats. And I say I get to enjoy hot flashes and night sweats just to add a little humor to the situation. I practice self-regulation during these moments by focusing on my breath and my body's sensations. So what I do is I observe my body temperature rising. I just find it so fascinating. And then I feel the sweat starting to form on my chest and I follow it as it starts to trickle down my chest, all while maintaining steady breathing. And eventually my body starts to cool down and I noticed this shift in the temperature. And then eventually I start to feel goosebumps because I'm starting to get cold. I continue to breathe. This strength really helps me to become the observer of my hot flashes, helping me to manage them without becoming overwhelmed each time they occur. Through this process, I learned how attentive breathing and mindfulness can transform an uncomfortable experience into a manageable one, teaching me resilience and patience.
Speaker 1:The 24 character strengths identified by the VIA classification are organized under broader categories called virtues. Each virtue represents a core value that encompasses several related strengths. The virtue is listed in caps underneath each character strength. Here's a quick overview. The strengths under the virtue of wisdom enable you to approach breast cancer with thoughtful exploration and informed decision-making. Strengths under the virtue of courage help you face fears and uncertainties with resilience and positivity. Strengths under the virtue of humanity, foster connection and emotional support throughout your journey. Strengths under the virtue of justice help you advocate for yourself and build supportive networks. Strengths under the virtue of temperance support emotional resilience and balance in the face of challenges. And, lastly, strengths under the virtue of transcendence bring deeper meaning and joy to your breast cancer journey.
Speaker 1:Now it's time for reflection. Question number five Based on where you are in your breast cancer journey, which virtue or category of strengths are you most interested in exploring and why? I'll share an example. I want to explore the strengths in the wisdom category more because I want to create engaging content for this podcast. Now, wisdom includes strengths to help me understand complex situations, generate new ideas and make informed decisions. For example, creativity enables me to find innovative ways to discuss breast cancer related topics. Curiosity drives me to explore new subjects and angles to keep the content engaging and perspective. It allows me to see the bigger picture and convey it to my listeners.
Speaker 1:Okay, we've covered the basics of your character, strength profile, the six virtues or categories of strengths and the four subsets of strengths. So let's do activity two, to help you build awareness and explore your strength. This activity is called thriving with strengths. Thriving means living life to the fullest, even when facing challenges. It's about growing, developing and using your strengths to find joy, purpose and positive connections in your experiences. Here are the steps Think about what thriving looks like to you during your breast cancer journey. Which character strengths, signature, middle lesser or phasic can help you reach that vision and why? And then, once you've identified the strengths, pick one strength that you will focus on this week. What specific action can you take each day to actively apply the strength and move closer to thriving? I'll share an example.
Speaker 1:To me, thriving in my breast cancer journey is about growing, developing and using my strengths to find joy and positive connections in my experiences. I want to use my breast cancer journey as an opportunity to evolve into the next version of myself. These are a few of the strengths that will support me in thriving in my breast cancer journey. Zest, one of my signature strengths, allowing me to find joy in everyday moments and stay motivated and engaged in my pursuit.
Speaker 1:Thriving also includes gratitude, another signature strength, and that means that I am aware of and thankful for the good things that happen, which helps me to maintain a positive outlook and feel satisfied, even during challenges. It also includes hope, a middle strength. I expect the best in the future and work towards achieving it, keeping my spirits high and motivating me to persevere through tough times. I also include curiosity, a middle strength I have an interest in exploring new topics, driving me to discover new ways of thriving and keeping my life rich and fulfilling. And also bravery, a lesser strength. I want to face my challenges head on, even when they're daunting, and this strength empowers me to take risks and confront my fears with courage. And, lastly, self-regulation. I see this one as a phasic strength. I'm able to manage my emotions and behaviors with discipline, helping me remain focused and calm under pressure.
Speaker 1:Now, the signature strength I am focusing on this week is zest. When I approach life with excitement and energy, it helps me to stay engaged and motivated, even during tough times. And the specific action I will take over the week is doing something each day that fills me with joy. It could be anything riding my one wheel, spending time with my husband and our adorable little kittens, bella and Luna, or even something as simple as savoring my morning cappuccino. And at the end of the day, I'll write down one thing that brought me joy, to help me stay focused on my strength and to remind me of the positive moments during my breast cancer journey.
Speaker 1:Now, as we close out this episode, remember to download and complete the worksheet to help you interpret your character strengths profile using stories, self-reflection and journaling. Also learn more about your character strengths. There's a link in the show notes to the VIA website. Learning more about your strengths can provide valuable insights, whether it's about understanding a strength that doesn't immediately resonate with you or deepening your understanding of a strength that you use regularly. Now. This episode focused on building awareness and exploring your character strengths. In episode four, I'll share strategies for activating your strengths in your breast cancer journey. I'll talk with you in the next episode. Thanks for joining.