| ested in becoming more happy and successful? | | | | If you can look back on a struggle to get what you |
| Cancer Survivors have obviously been through one of | | | | have, such as an educational achievement, or |
| the hardest tests life can throw us and this article has | | | | mastering a skill, that new skill means more to us and |
| some surprising information from them that you can | | | | we have a sense of pride in what we did and a belief |
| use to move your life ahead today. | | | | we can tackle more in our lives. Also we enjoy what |
| According to a USA TODAY/Kaiser Foundation | | | | we obtained through adversity more than something |
| Harvard study, 63 percent of cancer survivors say the | | | | we have that seemed easily obtained. Some people, |
| disease changed their lives in some positive way. | | | | who are gifted in an area, do not enjoy their |
| Some of the positive changes listed were such things | | | | achievements in that area, because it seems so easy |
| as a renewed sense of confidence, a greater | | | | to them. It is said that Marlon Brando looked down on |
| appreciation for their own endurance, a questioning of | | | | acting and actors, even though he was a gifted actor |
| their priorities and an increase in their coping abilities. | | | | himself, because it came easy to him. |
| As a motivational expert specializing in fast results, I | | | | So begin to gradually increase the amount of adversity |
| think there are valuable lessons for all of us to learn | | | | you have in your daily life, but focus that increased |
| from the terrible ordeal cancer survivors have gone | | | | adversity in areas that match your goals in life. For |
| though and how they changed. | | | | instance if you seek higher income, gradually increase |
| The first lesson we can learn from this is to appreciate | | | | the training and work you put in on the steps needed |
| each day that is given us and live each day to the | | | | to produce more income. As you reach one goal, keep |
| fullest, since none of know what tomorrow may bring. | | | | the pressure and momentum going and move on to |
| Another lesson we can learn is that avoiding adversity | | | | one or more new goals, but don’t forget to |
| is not always the best strategy in terms of our self | | | | acknowledge your progress and give yourself a small |
| development. Many times we only grow by going | | | | reward at each success. |
| through the sometimes painful process of trying new | | | | Business and Life Coach Theresa Smith stresses that |
| things, and facing new challenges. Many times these | | | | we need balance in our lives if we want to reduce |
| things show us we can do things we thought we | | | | stress and enjoy our lives. The sorting out of priorities |
| couldn’t do, or give us new knowledge and skills | | | | the cancer survivors did, probably result in a change in |
| that take us to a new level in life. The same can be | | | | the balance they had in their lives between work, |
| said for coping skills. The more we successfully cope | | | | family, relationships and so on. Make sure you do the |
| with, the more we know we can handle and therefore | | | | same. |
| we have lower levels of anxiety and stress, as we | | | | So take the lessons cancer survivors have shared |
| know we can handle things. | | | | with us and put them into use today. You will move |
| Going through adversity also increases our | | | | towards having increased self-confidence, happiness |
| self-confidence and our happiness with what we have. | | | | and begin to move your life to a new level. |