Embracing Colon Cancer: Becoming Whole

The idea of writing a book about my experience of Colon Cancer began to take root in the summer of 2021. Whilst I have no doubt that medical treatments and surgery, combined with exercise, eating healthy and whole foods, reducing stress and deep rest all contributed to healing my body, I also recognised how beneficial tending to my mental, emotional and spiritual needs had been.

The natural world that surrounds us always seeks balance. Although it may seem random and destructive, environmental events like forest fires and earthquakes are ways in which the earth restores equilibrium. The same is true for us. A cancer diagnosis feels devastating. Mines was a call to reflect and address imbalance in my mind, emotions and spirit and I was certain that this process would enhance my physical healing.  

Through soul level healing – by restoring balance to the whole of our lives – we can rebuild trust and confidence in our physical body. In recognising the ways that I had not been caring for my physical health, I was able to embody new behaviours and habits that were nourishing. Restoring harmony to the mind involves becoming conscious of the thoughts and beliefs that we organise and structure our lives according to, especially if these are fuelling long-standing imbalance. By considering the spirit, we can reflect on whether we feel fulfilled and at peace with our life in its current form. From there, we can take meaningful action to guide us in the direction of where we want to go and, most crucially, reconnect to nature.