Moving past the diagnosis

I can still remember the moment when I was told I had cancer back in 2018 as if it were yesterday. I won’t ever forget that feeling. Receiving a diagnosis such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease to name a few, can leave you feeling in shock and the road ahead can feel like a long and lonely one. I am here to assure you that you are not on your own and there is light at the end of the dark tunnel you have found yourself in. 

Regardless of our age, a life changing diagnosis or finding out you have a terminal illness can really be a cause for pause and can trigger you to reflect on your life choices. You might find yourself pondering past relationships, lost friendships and wondering how you can make the most of your future. Once we start going down the rabbit hole, we are likely to find ourselves wondering why we are here, what our purpose is and uncovering a desire for self improvement or wanting to rectify wrongs and give back to society. My personal journey led me to a full blown spiritual awakening and then transferring my corporate coaching experience to coaching people like you that have had a similar experience. Although we might have experienced something similar, your path might be different to mine. We can each receive a similar diagnosis but we will deal with that diagnosis and process it differently so no path is the same. There might be similarities but you are an individual on this journey.  

I’m going to assume that because you’ve read to this part, you’re ready for change and in that case you should read the following bits of wisdom that are based on my own journey and the journey of those who I have coached so far. This by no means is a conclusive list but it should definitely help you along this path. 

Search your soul for as long as you need

There’s no timeline for soul searching and definitely no blueprint. We are all different. Take all the time you need and ask the questions you need to ask. Use Google to find information, search on YouTube to see if you can find the answer, join a facebook group. I used to talk out loud to my chimney breast. But most importantly, sit with yourself and ask yourself the questions as the answers are already inside of you. You just might not be aware of it yet.

Sit in silence

For some of us, sitting alone in silence is difficult. It can be difficult to get time alone if you have a busy household but even when we do have the time, it’s hard to sit with ourselves and thoughts, mostly because it can be so painful. The majority of our lives are spent with distractions so unless you are an avid mindfulness practitioner or are already used to a daily meditation practice, sitting with those thoughts is difficult. The saying is ‘you have to feel it to heal it’ and it’s true. In order to move forward, you need to do the healing and that requires that you do the inner work. And meditate! There’s never been a better time to begin practicing meditation or mindfulness.  

Find your tribe

I feel that’s a bit of a ‘modern’ and ‘fad’ term but finding the people who really get you and understand what you’ve been through and the path you are on is important when it comes to feeling accepted. When we express the desire for what can be viewed by some people as a drastic change, it can make the road ahead seem even more lonely. It is common that old friendships will slip away but this is part of the process so don’t be alarmed. You’ve experienced something incredibly traumatic and you deserve to feel what you feel and desire what you desire. Make your desires known to the universe, making it clear the type of people you want to come into your life and watch it magically happen. 

Don’t compare your path to someone else’s

This is your journey. Your path. Not theirs. Not mine. We all go at our own speed and find our own method. You are so special because you are the only ‘you’ that exists in the world and your path should be as unique as you are! It’s common that people undergo the desire for drastic life change but please understand that it is completely normal and common.

Seek out healing

Spiritual healing is underrated and if you don’t already go for healing, it’s a great time to begin. There are many holistic therapies available. I’m a Usui Reiki practitioner and have so much belief in energy healing but that doesn't have to be part of your journey. There are many different types of reiki and other alternative healing therapies that are available, why don’t you investigate some and try a few until you find something that resonates with you? The important thing is that you heal - it’s a vital part and not doing the healing work (there are many things you can do by yourself too), you will hold yourself back. I often post free distance healing sessions on my social media (facebook, Instagram) and ask people to include their names and I’d love to have your name included there if you felt drawn to reiki.

Who are you?

It’s the age old question but who are you? What do you stand for? Understanding what we stand for and who we are as people might seem like a simple thing but in fact if we aren’t in touch with ourselves, it can be quite a challenging question to answer. Our lives are filled with so many distractions (facebook, netflix etc) that we often can’t answer it. But don’t be surprised if who you thought you were has changed since your diagnosis. The reality is that you’re rediscovering the authentic you, the real person. You’re simply remembering who you are!

To conclude, embrace this unique experience and as difficult as it might be, view it as an opportunity for positive change in your life and a chance to lead a more fulfilling life. Feel free to comment or drop me a message if you’d like to talk about your journey and I’d be happy to help, if I can. 

Love and light, Gemma x

Are you interested in considering coaching to help you move forward on your path? Read some of my testimonials here.