Breast Cancer Reimagined

Bloom Where You Are Planted (Mini workshop)

• Shannon

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This episode is a mini workshop and includes a Worksheet so you can follow along. 

Shannon offers a heartfelt exploration of how to navigate the breast cancer journey by cultivating a mindset of growth and resilience. Through personal insights and actionable advice, she inspires listeners to accept their current situations and find strength and meaning in them.

• Emphasis on the importance of mindset in navigating health challenges
• Five central themes of blooming where you are planted 
• Misconceptions surrounding the journey of personal growth 
• Journaling exercise to confront irrational beliefs 
• Steps to redefine personal beliefs for empowerment 
• Guided visualization to nurture inner strengths

What does it Mean to Bloom Where You Are Planted - 5 themes

  1. Be Kind to Yourself Right Where You Are 
  2. Give Yourself Time to Grow 
  3. Find the Beauty in the Tough Stuff 
  4. Trust Your Own Journey 
  5. Embrace Yourself with Love 


List of 24 Character Strengths

VIA Survey

Let Hope Bloom Bookmark

Please let us know how we can support you by completing the Breast Cancer Reimagined - Listener Survey


Speaker 1:

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. Create something truly powerful. I can't wait to hear from you. Hello, hello. Welcome back to the podcast. I'm Shannon, your host, proud two-time breast cancer survivor. I am so glad you're here.

Speaker 1:

To start, I'm going to share one of my favorite anonymous sayings and I want you to think about what it means to you and how it relates to your breast cancer journey. Here goes you can't control the cards you're dealt, but you can control how you play the hand. I love that saying, because a diagnosis can feel like a tough hand, dealt unexpectedly. I definitely felt that way. I had no lump and no family history either. Breast cancer seemed to come out of nowhere, but what I realized was that you can't control getting breast cancer, but how you respond to it is within your control. For example, choosing how to treat it, choosing how to seek support or how to care for yourself mentally and physically are all ways that you can take control. It's a testament to your strength and resilience. Ultimately, it's about choosing to bloom where you are planted, and that is what we're talking about in today's episode, episode number seven, and we'll be doing some journaling exercises. So if you want to follow along, you may want to have pen and paper. Handy Balloon when you Are Planted is the perfect follow-up to self-compassion, because it focuses on finding growth and meaning exactly where you are, even in difficult circumstances.

Speaker 1:

Now, I became familiar with this concept when I was diagnosed with breast cancer the second time. It was October of 2021. And when I went in for my mammogram because it was Breast Cancer Awareness Month they had something they were giving to every woman that came in for a mammogram, and what they were giving away this year was a bookmark, and the bookmark was called Let Hope Bloom. But something really special on the bottom of this bookmark that caught my attention. It said this paper is embedded with wildflower seeds. Plant and water daily until seedlings are well established. What an amazing idea planting the bookmark and watching it grow, watching it bloom and so that became part of my theme for my breast cancer journey, and it also became a sign for how I wanted to show up when I got diagnosed the second time.

Speaker 1:

So let's talk about what does it mean to bloom where you are planted? There are five themes that I'm going to share with you. So the first one is all about being kind to yourself right where you are. So, instead of beating yourself up about where you are in your journey, try accepting things as they are. Just like a plant grows in its space, you can grow and thrive right where you are too. Number two give yourself time to grow. Blooming where you're planted is all about being patient with yourself. It's okay if growth takes time. Allow yourself the space to evolve at your own pace and without pressure. Number three find the beauty in the tough stuff. Even when things are hard, remember that you can still find meaning and growth. Just like flowers bloom in difficult conditions, you can find strength and beauty in tough times by showing yourself compassion. Four trust your own journey. You don't have to rush or compare your progress to anyone else's. Growth happens at its own pace. So be gentle with yourself and trust that you're exactly where you need to be. And number five embrace yourself with love. Blooming where you're planted means accepting yourself, accepting your flaws and all. Show yourself some love and flexibility as you navigate the ups and downs of your journey, because you can thrive no matter where you're at. So which of these five themes stand out to you and why? Is there anything you would add in terms of what it means to bloom where you are planted?

Speaker 1:

Before moving to the journaling activity, I just want to briefly talk about three common misconceptions when it comes to blooming where you are planted. So the first one is the idea to bloom where you are planted, it doesn't mean that you're stuck. It's about finding growth and meaning in your current situation, not resigning yourself to it, and meaning in your current situation, not resigning yourself to it. And number two bloom where you are planted is not about ignoring your needs or suppressing your dreams. It's about finding ways to nurture yourself and pursue your goals within your current circumstances. And number three bloom where you are planted doesn't mean you have to be happy all the time. It acknowledges that challenges exist, but encourages finding ways to thrive despite them.

Speaker 1:

So what does it look like to bloom where you are planted while navigating your breast cancer journey? For me, one of the ways it showed up was deciding on purpose how I wanted to frame and navigate my journey. That was a way I was blooming. Another way you can bloom is when you have tough days. Instead of focusing on the tough days, you can also celebrate your small wins, like finishing a treatment or finding peace in your journey. This helps you see your journey as a chance to grow. And number three when things get tough, you remind yourself of your strength and you keep going. Your perseverance helps you get through the hard times and it also inspires others.

Speaker 1:

So, as we transition to the journaling activity, there are two quick things that I want you to keep in mind. The first one is to think about your character strengths. Your character strengths are the positive parts of your personality. There are 24 character strengths and we all have all 24 of them. So there's a link in the show notes to the list of 24 character strengths and if you'd like to discover your character strengths profile, there's a link to the VIA survey there as well. So, for this activity, think about your character strengths and which ones you can bring to this activity to help you get the most out of it. So, for example, maybe you bring your kindness and you are being gentle with yourself and not being critical. Maybe you want to bring your perspective and look at the bigger picture and start to notice if you see any patterns emerging. Maybe you'll bring your honesty and tell yourself the truth about your experience, because you know that's how you're going to get the most out of this activity, because you know that's how you're going to get the most out of this activity. And the second thing you can't control the cards you're dealt, but you can control how you play the hand. There is a link in the show notes to a handout so that you can follow along with this exercise.

Speaker 1:

So the first step write down a card you've been dealt in your breast cancer journey and why it's a problem. So some examples of cards that you may have been dealt in your breast cancer journey could be side effects so many side effects and then you take medication and the medication gives you more side effects Anyway, side effects. So some side effects might be fatigue, nausea, hair loss, neuropathy. Or perhaps a card you've been dealt is treatment. Maybe you're going through radiation, maybe you're going through chemo. It could be something in terms of, like, financial situation or maybe related to your insurance. Or maybe you're working as you're navigating your breast cancer journey and that's a challenge for you. Or maybe a card you've been dealt is in terms of the support that you're receiving or not receiving as you're navigating your breast cancer journey. So those are just some examples. But write down a card you've been dealt in your breast cancer journey and then write down why it's a problem. This is really an opportunity for you to just get all of those thoughts out of your head and on to paper. So once you've done that, now we can move to step number two.

Speaker 1:

And step number two is to identify the irrational beliefs you see playing out in what you wrote down about your card. Let me explain Albert Ellis, he's an American psychologist and he described six beliefs as classic examples of irrational beliefs or demands. Demands are rigid, unrealistic and often subconscious expectations that lead to emotional distress. And so as you look at this handout, you'll notice there are six irrational beliefs that are listed. The first one is life should be fair, and you'll notice it says this is a demand on the universe or on reality itself. So that just kind of gives you an overarching idea for this particular irrational belief or demand. And then, underneath it, there are three similar but differently worded beliefs that tie into the same idea. Because what you'll notice is you might not say that life should be fair in the story that you wrote, but you might say something similar. You might say something like it's not say that life should be fair in the story that you wrote, but you might say something similar. You might say something like it's not right that life is so unfair, or I deserve a fair shake, or bad things shouldn't happen to me or us. So the idea is, as you're looking through these beliefs, just notice if there is a flavor of that belief in your story. So I'm just going to take a moment and read through all six beliefs so that you have an overall view of what they are.

Speaker 1:

So again, number one life should be fair. This is the demand on the universe or reality itself. Number two I shouldn't have to work so hard. This is a demand for comfort and avoidance of effort. Number three I must be approved by everyone. This is a demand for universal approval. Number four life should be easier. This is a demand for constant ease. Be easier, this is a demand for constant ease. Number five you must treat me well. This is a demand on others' behavior. And number six I must always do well. This is a demand for perfection.

Speaker 1:

What I love about these irrational beliefs or demands is the recognition that these irrational beliefs are common. Albert Ellis described them as classic examples, and knowing that to me is so important because it helps us to realize that others share similar thoughts and emotional challenges. And why is that important? It can help us validate our feelings and to reduce the stigma around seeking help or talking about these issues. Also, when you understand that these irrational beliefs are part of a known pattern seen in many others, it can just make it easier to accept and to realize that there's nothing wrong with you. There's nothing wrong with me, we're not alone in our struggles. These are common irrational beliefs that we all face. And one other thing that I find so fascinating about this is that these irrational beliefs show up in all areas of our life, not just as we're navigating breast cancer.

Speaker 1:

So again for step number two, you want to identify the irrational beliefs that you see playing out in what you wrote down about your card, and so, once you write those down, step number three is to select one of those beliefs that is blocking you from blooming and then to identify how do you know it's blocking you. So let me give you an example. So the irrational belief that I identified is life should be fair. I was thinking that it's not fair that I got breast cancer. I didn't have a lump and there was no history in my family, and I know that this belief was blocking me because I was thinking that breast cancer was happening to me and that thought made me cry. That thought made me really unhappy. It made me feel like a victim. I didn't like that and it also kept me in disbelief because I kept saying I just can't believe I have breast cancer. I just can't believe I have breast cancer. I can't believe I have breast cancer.

Speaker 1:

But this step is really important and understanding how you know it's blocking you is key. Knowing how it's blocking you is key. Awareness is key because once you recognize how this belief is holding you back, you can meet yourself with compassion instead of frustration or self-criticism. This awareness allows you to gently notice the pattern in real time and it gives you the power to choose a response that actually supports you and it's not about getting it perfect actually supports you. And it's not about getting it perfect. It's about giving yourself the grace to shift in a way that aligns with your well-being.

Speaker 1:

Step number four Now it's time to decide. What do you want to believe instead of the irrational belief that you wrote down in step number three? This is about choosing a new belief to focus on, and in the worksheet you'll notice a new column. There's one column that says irrational belief. All six of those same beliefs are listed, and then in the column to the right of that, it's called a new belief, and what we have in this column is kind of like an opposite belief of the irrational belief, and we have three options for you to choose from, and these again are just suggestions.

Speaker 1:

So for number one, instead of life should be fair, you might choose to believe. I can't control everything, but I can control how I respond. Number two instead of I shouldn't have to work so hard, you may choose to believe I will give myself grace when things feel difficult, myself grace when things feel difficult. Number three instead of I must be approved by everyone, you might choose to believe not everyone will understand my journey, and that's okay. I will honor my own path. Number four instead of life should be easier. You may choose to believe struggle doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong. It means I'm human. Number five instead of saying you must treat me well, you may choose to believe others may not always show up as I wish, but I can choose to nurture myself. And number six instead of believing I must always do well. You may choose to believe it's not about being strong all the time. It's about allowing myself to rest and heal when needed. Now that you have your new belief in hand, I'm going to lead you through a guided visualization, but if you are driving, just listen and you can do the visualization at a later time. So make sure that you're in a safe space if you're going to do the visualization. Okay, here we go.

Speaker 1:

Find a cozy place, gently close your eyes and draw a deep, soothing breath through your nose. Hold it for a moment, then slowly exhale through your mouth, feeling a deeper relaxation with each breath. Visualize yourself in a peaceful garden, sunlight warming your skin and leaves softly wrestling in the breeze. Breathe in through your nose, enjoying the garden's fresh, aromatic air. In your hand is a distinctive bookmark labeled Let Hope Bloom. It's embedded with wildflower seeds accompanied by a note Plant and Water Daily until seedlings are well established. These seeds represent the new belief you've embraced, one of nurturing potential and continuous growth.

Speaker 1:

Pick an ideal spot in the garden and plant your bookmark. As you bury it in the fertile earth, imagine it rooting down. Visualize the roots growing, grounding and stabilizing you. Visualize the roots growing, grounding and stabilizing you With each inhalation. See the seeds beginning to reaching up and eventually blooming into radiant wildflowers. These blossoms signify the growth in energy that come from nurturing your inner strengths and embracing your journey. Admire the flourishing flowers and allow yourself to feel profound gratitude for the blessings in your life. What are you particularly thankful for right now? Let these sensations surround you with warmth and positivity. Admire the flourishing flowers and allow yourself to feel profound gratitude for the blessings in your life, resonating with your character, strengths of love, gratitude and hope. Let these sensations surround you with warm and positivity. Take a deep, revitalizing breath, feeling motivated and ready to thrive in your existing conditions. Slowly open your eyes, bringing with you the vibrant image of the blooms from your Let Hope Bloom bookmark. The bookmark is a reminder that, while you can't control the cards you're dealt, you can control how you play the hand. Welcome back Now.

Speaker 1:

We'll move into step five. What's the first small step you can take today to nurture your growth each day, like watering the seeds? Which of your character strengths will support you in this journey? Now, for me, the example I was sharing. My new belief is I can't control everything, but I can control how I respond, and the first small step I took was to make a decision. Step I took was to make a decision. I decided that breast cancer was happening for me to learn and grow, and a few of the character strengths I used. I used my perspective by framing my experience in a way that felt empowering. I also use my curiosity and wondered about the things I would learn and how I would grow in my breast cancer journey. And I also use my spirituality, because I know I got breast cancer for a reason and I get to decide what that reason is.

Speaker 1:

As we wrap up this episode, I want you to remember you can't control the cards you're dealt, but you can control how you play the hand. Now it's your turn. Make sure you go through the five steps so you have a belief that can boost your ability to bloom where you are planted, belief that can boost your ability to bloom where you are planted. Here's a quick recap of the five steps Write down a card you've been dealt in your breast cancer journey and why it's a problem. Two identify the irrational beliefs you see playing out and what you wrote down about your card from step number one. Number three choose one irrational belief that is blocking you from looming and ask yourself how do you know it's blocking you? Number four decide what you want to believe instead.

Speaker 1:

This is about choosing a new belief to focus on. And number five what's the first small step you can take today to nurture your growth each day and which of your character strengths will support you on this journey? Here's another quote I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions, and that's by Stephen Covey. Product of my decisions and that's by Stephen Covey. In our next episode we'll explore practical tools for managing stress. Don't forget to subscribe. I'll talk with you in the next episode. Thank you for joining.