As I look in my mirror each day…especially this month…
October is Breast cancer Awareness Month…
I look back at Me and Vividly recall my own diagnosis of nearly stage three breast cancer, in none other than Breast cancer Awareness month of 2005.
While it wasn’t the best news… I mentioned that it also wasn’t the worst news either to all those who would ask the results of my biopsy.
So here I AM… 20 years later… cancer Free and still a Thrivor, as well as Survivor!
So…This is what I Know.
There is a lot of fellowship among Breast cancer survivors/Thrivors. We tell Breast cancer personal stories, go on Breast cancer walks, and join Breast cancer support groups in order to be closer to other survivors…as well as, Thrivors…that’s Thriving Breast cancer survivor…of which I AM Blessed to BE!!!
BEing close to other Breast cancer survivors/Thrivors prevents the loneliness many women feel who have had…or have Breast cancer. And…You can learn a lot about Breast cancer from hearing Breast cancer personal stories.
Please keep this Essential in mind as you read on.
“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
Perhaps…One of the greatest difficulties in Life is facing one’s own mortality. The incidence of Breast cancer, as well as, Living with Breast cancer, and the uncertainty of its outcome can BE a time of emotional, physical, and Spiritual upheaval in one’s life.
It is often said that with great difficulties comes personal growth. This personal growth and strength can also bring a sense of accomplishment: “I made it… I finished my chemotherapy and radiation treatments and I am here to talk about it.”
We reflect on what we have learned. I sure did! The Breast cancer experience brought me to another place that I just had not encountered in “normal” everyday life. It is an experience that stands alone and is set apart from everything else that has ever happened to me.
Often others will say how much they admire me for the strength you showed in coping with Breast cancer.
I Accept and I AM proud of not only getting through Breast cancer treatments but also for the Wisdom the experience has taught Me…has taught us.
We are now in a position to give back and it feels good.
We can choose to Empower others, share what worked for us during our experience and expression of Breast cancer, and offer encouragement to someone who has been newly diagnosed.
Empowerment knows that no matter what situation we are in that there is always something positive we can do…We can BE!
I call IT a Gift…a Blessing Even in that, not so good stuff!
Given choices…No one chooses to grow by facing Life’s difficulties… but this is how Empowerment BEGINS … and together with personal growth we emerge as individuals with Courage, Empowered to BE Our True Self.
Feeling Empowered is subjective… and varies from individual to individual.
But the Universal Truth of Empowerment comes from the knowledge that We have options and control over Our choices… the ability to make those choices… and the responsibility for the choices We make.
Empowerment is that feeling and conviction that comes from having gone through a difficult situation and made it. Capturing our “new normal” is taking that newly Empowered Self… and using IT to form a new and improved YOU.
The way you viewed yourSelf in the world and how you filled your days prior to having Breast cancer will take on new meaning.
Your perspective may not change at all… but for most women living with Breast cancer, the experience enriches their Lives and takes Life down a new path. Finding Empowerment no matter what stage of Breast cancer treatment You are in…regardless of what season of Life You are experiencing… is about using it to create a “new normal” for YourSelf. A new and improved YOU!
Trust and BElieve…I Know!
As a significant aside, please know that…Women are natural attractors. Yet due to cultural programming, many women have lost their way, and we end up approaching work like a man. The masculine program is all about goal-setting and goal-getting; this rarely works for women in the long-term.
Instead, women must fill our cup first with what makes us come alive, and BE immersed in a community of support, adventure, and inspiration.
And then, we blossom…and attract!
The Dalai Lama said that the world will be saved by Western Women. I happen to think he was right.
As an LIFEstyle Empowerment Alchemist/Coach, Author, and Speaker who has worked closely with women for decades, I find that deep-down, women naturally desire to create work that makes a difference in the world. The most important thing we can do is to discover and pursue work we Love. This is essential for our Happiness…for our Health and Well-BEING!
Human nature for many reasons focuses on living. People are busy making plans, setting financial goals, establishing career moves, building a family life, and not dwelling on the end. Often much time is wasted on unimportant things that are valued at that moment or time in your Life.
Having Breast cancer brought My mortality to the forefront.
What My beliefs might have been before, now may be questioned as the reality sets in that our Life on earth is only temporary.
Life is meant to be Lived. You are a unique partner in Life… with Purpose and Meaning to your existence!
So… Why not Live it with a participatory viewpoint?
I Truly BElieve…It is easier to prioritize the important things, experiences, and people in your Life when you have dealt firsthand with challenging situations…Breast cancer being one of them.
You can choose to waste less time or waste more time. Spend less time at non-Purpose and non-Meaning work and experiences…and more time enjoying Your family and friends, Nature…and that which Truly Makes your Tail Wag.
Here’s yet another Essential to ponder…
While It is only one way of Living…Living with the end in mind is one way to participate in your Life with a Zest, Awareness, and Appreciation that may go unnoticed prior to having Breast cancer.
Being diagnosed with Breast cancer is not a gift in itself, but the Wisdom that came from the experience is a gift that has… And continues to enrich and fulfill My Life. Trust and Believe…I know…as I often referred to my own diagnosis of Breast cancer as I mentioned earlier… as…”Not the best news, but not the worse news either!”
Once we have come face to face with our challenges…the “bad”…the “ugly”…even mortality, then we can Truly Live.
In that spirit, Debbie Mazza-Taylor, who lost her five-year experience with Breast cancer just days before her forty-first birthday, wrote this poem:
For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind?
And to melt into the sun. And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath From its restless tides, that it may rise and expand Seeking God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence Shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountaintop Then you shall begin to climb.
And when earth shall claim your limbs, Then shall you truly dance.
My philosophy includes that Life is meant to be Lived with the thought that… Life is not a dress rehearsal — We only have one chance at IT, and, yes…The Show must go on!
Of this…I AM certain!
Today…I invite YOU to
BE The Source Within You…Now!
Remember…Have a Magnificent and Healthy day…Everyday!
To Our Health, Well-BEing & Empowerment Together!
And…Just in case no one told You today…
I Love You bunches…
and I BElieve in Your ability to
Fix Your Reflection First…And Live Your Best Life Ever!
Blessings!
Rhonda??
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Rhonda M. Farrah, MA, DRWA, a LIFEstyle Empowerment Alchemist, Coach and prominent figure
in personal development, has dedicated her years of insights as a psychotherapist to be a guiding light for women facing unique challenges, helping them embark on a transformative journey of Self- discovery and Empowerment.
In a world where external issues often command our attention, Rhonda Farrah stands out as a catalyst for inner growth with her mantra, “Fix Your Reflection First.” A beacon of hope for women who find themselves trapped in the throes of personal turmoil, be it in relationships, careers, or daily life.
Through her extensive career and profound dedication, Rhonda Farrah has spearheaded the Fix Your Reflection First method of realizing that both the joys and the setbacks in your life can serve you IF you can look past your immediate emotional response and use your Self-awareness to grow instead of pushing yourself down. Farrah’s holistic approach centers on Self-reflection and the restoration of Self-love as the cornerstone of personal growth and Change.
As a seasoned author, Empowerment Alchemist coach, speaker, entrepreneur, spiritual teacher, and educator, Rhonda has cultivated an extensive toolkit designed to assist individuals in addressing the challenges that hold them back and embracing the joys that propel them forward. Working with clients and companies from International Centers For Spiritual Living to the US Open Wellness Team, Rhonda’s teachings emphasize harnessing Self-awareness and leveraging life’s setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles.
Rhonda’s mission is to Empower women to prioritize their Self-love and Self-awareness, nurturing a profound alignment that positively influences every facet of their lives. Her work fosters a renewed sense of confidence and a hunger for personal growth, igniting a powerful journey of Self-discovery. Having written several e-books, Rhonda has participated as a Contributing Author to America’s Heroes, Leaders, Legends, The Power Of The Human Spirit, and America’s Leading Ladies Who Positively Impact Our World, featuring Oprah Winfrey and Melinda Gates.
Please click here for Rhonda’s group coaching.
