I am a movie lover.  I love many genres.  Summertime is a big time for movie releases and I’m excited.  I just went to see Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.  No spoiler alert here.  But I am reminded of seemingly impossible missions.  How many times has someone told me that I can’t do something, that it will be impossible.  How many times have I told myself that I can’t do something, letting outside voices quiet my own or become my own voice.  We have to learn to quiet negative voices.

It Seemed Impossible

For me, getting through chemo was seemingly impossible.  “I can’t do this.  I can’t go back.”  After dealing with a lot of the side effects, nausea, extreme fatigue, malaise, I was struggling.  Every inch of my body ached, and I didn’t think I could return for another treatment.  But I knew it would be beneficial to my long-term survival and I had to take a new approach.  I incentivized myself.  Yes, I gave myself a gift every time I completed a chemo treatment.  I celebrated and honored each completion as a significant milestone.

We can create our own biggest barriers by the words we speak and how we allow these words to influence our actions.  “I won’t dare dream because this is all there is.”  “If there was something more for me, I wouldn’t have been diagnosed with cancer.”  “The best I can do is hope to struggle through each day.”

Stop Negative Voices

Stop it!  Quite negative voices.  As cancer survivors, we can use what we learn surviving cancer to break through obstacles, overcome challenges and keep moving forward.  Take a look back.  How many times did we realize it was only impossible until we did it?!! I didn’t want to go back after my first chemo, and I ultimately completed my 16 treatments.  I didn’t want to dream of anything better because I felt so hopeless after my cancer diagnosis, but I’ve been working diligently to improve my life and follow my dreams, do things that are self-fulfilling.  I’m writing my book.  I’m applying for new speaking opportunities.

My husband is famous for telling me, and a lot of folks, to do one scary thing every day.  When I look back, a lot of these scary things seemed impossible until I did them and I’m sure the same for you.  I’m following up on a few unsolicited proposals and working on a new one.  What’s your scary thing today?  Once you do it, please celebrate and honor yourself for completing another significant milestone.

Quiet the outside and internal negative voices and keep moving forward on Destiny’s Road.  Cancer won’t stop me.  I’m claiming my destiny.  Reach out and get some daily affirmations.