Breast Cancer & Post-Treatment Joy

Thirteen years ago this week I was in the hospitalDesigning a few small things to do that bring you
after breast cancer diagnosis recovering fromjoy can create a shift in your energy and outlook
bi-lateral mastectomy surgery and feeling puny,no matter what your age, stage or prognosis.
weak and out of sorts. Yet, from my hospitalWhat will you try right now?
window I could see blue sky, snow-cappedI encourage you to spend an hour or a half a day
mountains and a variety of colored flowers in theor a two hour date with yourself keeping track of
beds below. Joy entered. Yes, joy!what's right. You could make notes to record
That glimpse of Nature reminded me that we areboth the little and the big moments that pop into
capable of deciding where to put our attention (onyour awareness when you're doing this
feeling sick, hospital smells and noises or theexperiment. My prediction is that a sense of
miracle of Nature at her finest just a glancegratitude will follow. You'll see that you have the
away). What's exciting about this is that ourcapacity to create even more joy as you
energy and focus follow where our attentionbecome willing to do so. Joseph Campbell adds his
goes. Yes, you can too! Consider this: "What giveswords of wisdom on this subject by reminding us:
me true joy?""We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we
As you pay attention to what brings you joy, youcan choose to live in joy.
shift your mood. Are you ready to try it?