Staying Positive

One of the compliments I hear most frequently from people is how inspiring my attitude is. I always warmly receive the compliment (I am not one to shy away from praise), but I always feel a bit like it's receiving recognition for breathing. Because keeping a positive attitude, you see, is completely natural to me. More importantly, it is key to survival.

Anger is a powerful emotion, and can motivate a person partially, but motivation from negativity can only go so far. Maybe you'll be able to angrily grit your teeth through some pain, but when that's over, what keeps you going during those quiet, painless times?  Most of the emotional challenges that come with beating cancer are during these quiet, painless times. If you're blinded by anger -- the "why me" bitterness -- you can't get your head right. And that's more than half of what you need to succeed. 

Fear is even more useless. It paralyzes and corrupts. When you're afraid of the disease, or what it could mean for you or your career or your family, you are wasting time and energy. Why allow your mind to go to those dark places in your imagination? When you're battling cancer, you don't have room to be afraid. Your nemesis is powerful enough without fear strengthening it and weakening you.

I don't mean to say that anger and fear following a diagnosis of "the cancer" are unnatural or wrong. But they aren't beneficial, and they only make the battle more difficult.

So yes, I've got a positive attitude. I approach my battle with enthusiasm, confidence, and the knowledge that everything will work out exactly as I want it to. Of course I do. Because I plan to survive.