As we know, life presents us with unexpected challenges, an interwoven structure of ebb and flow, resulting in an embracing and resisting of energies. Through these moments of adversity, our strength may be rendered anew. A crash course in a test of resilience showed up four years ago when my journey through a breast cancer diagnosis, surgery, and subsequent recovery came colliding with a new position I had just accepted, the demands of running a consulting business, and efforts of supporting my family, particularly my teenage daughter.
There I was in the spring of 2019, sitting in a chair at the salon, having my hair done while catching up on messages on my phone, when the call came in. As it was nearly 6 pm and the caller ID revealed it was the hospital where I had my biopsy done a few days earlier, my initial thought was that I was about to receive some less-than-spectacular news. As I was having difficulty hearing the physician’s voice on the other side of the phone with the drone of hairdryers muffling her words, I stepped outside on an unusually windy, rainy, and cool evening while holding firm to my umbrella as it swayed in the wind, the dramatic scene mirroring the impending fear rising within. Struggling to listen to the news I began to receive, it was suddenly Charlie Brown’s mother at the end of the phone, as rain pelted at me sideways. Shivering and shaking, I stepped back inside the salon, my head trying to process the confirmation of a breast cancer diagnosis, words not in one’s vocabulary. The fear instilling news and the subsequent impending surgery, which was the required next step, suddenly loomed as a dark cloud.
As humans, our initial reaction to unexpected news of a negative nature can take on the gamut of emotions. Once the initial response and subsequent roller coaster range of feelings occur, they may either take root and grow, or they may be funneled in a different direction; rather, it is up to us to choose our response, the choice still being ours is within our control. As one who had always tried to incline myself toward a peaceful, joyous state, why should it be any different now, even if facing a fear-inducing diagnosis? As someone who believed and strived to embrace this mantra daily, I needed to continue in this direction, not allowing this adversity to overpower me but rather confronting it with faith and determination.
While fearful and uncertain were my initial reactions, I made the conscious decision daily, to shift my perspective. I viewed my cancer journey not as a burden but as an opportunity for growth and a chance to be a role model to my daughter and to those around me, including my team, who still relied on me. While running a business, working for a company, and supporting a family are demanding on their own, when combined with a cancer diagnosis, they became even more challenging. The key was to learn the art of being in the present moment while leaning into my faith, believing that God would make provisions for me and carry me through the traverse waters. This allowed a sense of calm and contentedness to settle in, and while it was a daily practice, it was a transformative one. It allowed me to be still, to not move towards the runaway train online searching for the aftermath of the surgery I would face or pouring over information about the prognosis for my new diagnosis. I learned how to harness that energy while remaining in a sense of equanimity, all while trying to create new levels of efficiency. I channeled my energy into tasks that truly mattered, both in my business and personal life, prioritizing what was aligned with my compass while impacting others positively and with purpose.
I did not walk alone on this journey. My family, friends, and colleagues rallied around me. The support I received sought to highlight the strength of those relationships, a testament only displayed during adversity. It was in those moments that I felt the power of relationships which were based on authenticity.
Embracing a strong faith was my anchor during this challenging time, helping me find the courage to move forward, even through the pangs of uncertainty. My faith provided me a balm of infinite comfort and reassurance. It helped me understand that, even in the face of adversity, there was a refuge of peace that was mine to embrace if only I stood still in its recognition. It allowed me to be true to myself while still desiring to uplift others. My breast cancer diagnosis and surgery were significant pivotal points in my journey, and I chose to face it with strength, faith, and a spirit of mindfulness.
Desiring to grow as a leader, I felt the responsibility to be a source of strength and inspiration for those around me. This meant balancing vulnerability and resilience. Adversity may yield reserves of strength if we allow it, building us to become more impactful leaders. I learned to lead through the discomfort of not being in control of my situation but rather through my response to it, showing my team and those around me that there is strength in vulnerability and in how we choose to magnify the light through the darkness. Being a role model to my young daughter became one of my greatest focuses. I wanted to show her, through example, that life’s challenges could be overcome with strength, faith, and resilience. My journey was an opportunity to cultivate the lifelong necessary trait of resilience which could be viewed from her youthful eyes, planting the seeds to be later reaped along her own journey into adulthood one day.
Adversity has a way of developing us while drawing upon reserves of strength one only begins to understand. My experience with breast cancer and the challenges that accompanied it helped me grow not only as an individual but as a leader, as a newfound strength permeated into every aspect of my life. Overcoming challenges is a journey that strengthens our reserves, reveals our character, and molds us into versions of ourselves with greater depth. Harnessing the power of the contentment found from being still in the moment while garnering strength from one’s faith has the ability to help us traverse the greatest plains, where the depths of despair may not encroach upon us. We all have that strength within when we make the conscious decision to align ourselves to draw upon its wonder. Let it rest easily upon our minds, allowing us confidence in the knowledge that we may be triumphant, as the light always pierces the darkness when we allow it.