PATIENCE
I am an incredibly patient person, except when it comes to myself. As it seems with so many of us and so many things in life, we apply a different set a “rules” to ourselves than to others. Always be kind to others, but we often don’t extend that same kindness to ourselves. Always treat others with respect, and yet we often do not respect our own needs and boundaries. Practice patience with others, but expect the world of yourself NOW.I’m very guilty of this, but it was even worse before cancer. Among many things, cancer helped me see that everything is a process. As much as we would love to be fully healed and healthy now, that’s just not how it works. It took many years to develop an internal terrain where cancer thrives, and so it will take longer than a few weeks to reverse it. Meet yourself where you are now instead of being frustrated that you aren’t where you want to and will be one day. Show patience to yourself through this process, because being hard on yourself really isn’t going to help you reach your goal.
And this is true of your mental and emotional healing too. I know for me, ignoring my needs and pushing myself way too hard instead of being patient with where I was and what I could reasonably do were definitely contributing factors to cancer developing. Self love and self care should not be viewed as indulgences that you squeeze in once in a while; they should be viewed as necessities, both while you’re in the throes of healing and also when life finds an even keel again. They will in fact contribute greatly to that evenness.
Small steps forward are still steps forward. Little wins are still wins. And you are deserving of a peaceful, unrushed path to holistic health and healing. Start where you are, for the journey is long and is about so much more than where we’re going.
Happy Healing