It’s a Sunday afternoon and you’d give anything to curl up under a blanket with a book and hide from the world.
But there are lots of things to do that make that impossible.
You’ll rest later.
Except you never do.
Let me ask you this: Do you remember when cancer forced you to stop?
Do you remember when rest was a pivotal part of your healing?
Do you remember taking care of yourself first, because you had no choice?
Stop. Take a breath and look around you. Will it really all fall down if you take the afternoon off?
Sometimes we resist seeking comfort after cancer. We want to throw ourselves back into living, push ourselves beyond our comfort zone and make big changes.
But, life is always going to require healing. And healing is always going to require comfort.
You need comfort. Here’s how to go about creating more of it in your world:
1. Concentrate on the little things that make you happy: Whether it’s a favorite sweater, dog, yoga class, or driving with the top down, if it makes you happy, make sure to enjoy it more often. To get that done, start paying attention to what makes you smile. And then make the effort to bring those things into your life. You deserve it.
2. Rest: Give in to fatigue. Initially, it speaks to you in whispers, but tends to scream like a banshee when ignored. To keep it from getting to that point, learn to shut down at a reasonable hour at the end of the day. Put a premium on rest and getting to sleep and you will be more productive in the long run.
3. Make home a haven of comfort: Every autumn, I seasonalize my home for the colder months. I put out comfy throws in the family room, including a faux fur one I got from Pottery Barn. Sitting under that throw is one of my sweetest comforts when the wind is howling outside and I hate to see it go in the spring.
4. Stay in touch: Keep communicating and sharing with your cancer sisters. While I was treating, I was immersed in support groups, therapy and events that put me in weekly contact with other patients/survivors. Eventually, that came to an end. To this day, however, I still meet up with other survivors by working with the Pathways Women’s Cancer Teaching Project. And, of course, I stay in touch with the very close friends I made along the way. Their inclusion in my life is a constant comfort and source of support.
5. Maintain a soul practice: Whether you are part of a religious community, pray, meditate, or commune with nature, spend some time developing a soul practice. Take your practice one step further by creating a sacred space of peacefulness and healing at home, where you can take a moment to stop, breathe and find comfort anytime you need it.
6. Finish this sentence: I find comfort in ——. Write down whatever you think of without censoring yourself. When you’re finished writing, review what you’ve written and think about how to bring those things into your life today.
It’s been said many times that life begins outside our comfort zone. I don’t believe it. Life requires comfort because comfort fortifies and heals. How do you do comfort? Let me know and I’d love to hear how you finished the sentence in tip number six. Make sure to tell me in the comments below.
Wishing you much comfort & peace,
Where We Go Now 