From Cancer to Confidence

 What would you consider a normal birthday celebration?

Wake up in the morning, check Facebook to see the 200 "Happy Birthday" wall posts (half of the posts come from people you haven't spoke to in at least 5 years). You follow checking Facebook up with going to work, school, or maybe like a lot of people neither because the economy sucks and you are stuck at home. Once the afternoon rolls in you may check Facebook again, open your mail to see if your grandma sent you a crisp $20, possibly receive some presents from family and friends, go out for a birthday dinner, grab a birthday cocktail, and finally wrap things up with some cancer.

Wait...what?

You heard me, cancer.

Take a second, close your eyes. I want you to envision the birthday celebration I carefully laid out for you in the above paragraph. Now try and predict how you would react if you opened the next birthday card after your sweet Grandma's and it read,

"Happy Birthday, You have cancer."
 

On April 20, 2009 Shaun turned 29. He also was diagnosed with cancer. 

Shaun was told by his Doctor that he had Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

 This is how it works:

CLL causes a slow increase in white blood cells called B lymphocytes, or B cells. The cancerous cells spread from the blood marrow to the blood, and can also affect the lymph nodes or other organs such as the liver and spleen.

CLL eventually causes the bone marrow to fail.

The cause of CLL is unknown.

There is no link to radiation, cancer-causing chemicals, or viruses.

This cancer mostly affects adults, around age 70. It is rarely seen under age 40. The disease is more common in Jewish people of Russian or East European descent
(U.S. National Library of Medicine).

YouTime: When you were officially told that you were diagnosed 

                  with cancer, what went through your mind?

Shaun: I couldn't stop thinking about chemotherapy, losing my

             hair, and dying. It was hard, I didn't know what to think. It

             was scary.

Two months after being diagnosed with CLL Shaun received some news.

Drum roll please...

  
Shaun was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.

At the end of June 2009, Shaun got the big news that not only did he have cancer but he now has Type II Diabetes.

YouTime: This is some hard stuff to take in, how were 

                 you feeling after hearing the news?
 

Shaun: This felt like two really big hits. 

YouTime: It sounds unbelievably tough. What kind 

                of thoughts were you having about the quality 

                of life you may now have to live with? 

               

Shaun: I honestly just kept thinking, "Shaun, you will be shooting 
             insulin into your stomach for the rest of your life".

STOP

Using the K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Stupid) model from the previous blog (if you didn't read it, DO IT!!)

I want to take a step backwards.

We do not need to discuss the complexities of what causes different types of cancers and type II diabetes. Although, if you wish to know the answer...I strongly encourage you to read "The China Study" or watch "Forks Over Knives".

The problem is clear and the solution is clearer.

What we need to do now is ask a simple question...

Given the situation that Shaun is currently in,

HOW DOES HE MOVE ON FROM HERE?

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Shaun decided to work with YouTime Coaching to take charge and control of the challenges he was presented with. 

SHAUN'S REMARKABLE RESULTS BELOW:

 
 


 

If the results you see interest you and make you start wondering what you take control of in your life, contact me for a FREE Consultation!
CLICK HERE TO CONTACT

K.I.S.S.

Take a second to ask yourself a few questions. Have you ever said the following statements?

 "nothing is going right for me"

"why does this always happen to me"

"I can never do anything right"

"I never seem to get things right"

"this is way too hard"

If you are guilty of saying one of the above statements or "sort of" guilty, not only are you part of the vast majority of the country, but this blog may even help you! 
So, KEEP READING!

At times, life chooses to mix you a fine cocktail containing,

 1 ounce complication

2 ounces difficulty

1.5 ounces confusion

1 splash of chaos

Each individual's cocktail differs slightly in ingredients but all tend to have a commonality in the solution. During these moments in life mentioned above, we as complicated, complex, and intricate human beings forget our ability to SIMPLIFY.

I am not asking you to rid yourself of all material possessions, make your house out of mud and sticks, or wear clothes made out of recycled newspaper. Though, If you wish to do any or all of these things more power to you and I would love to hear how that is working out for you!

What I am actually asking you to do are two very easy and useful things.

1. Make Lists

2. Use Acronyms

1. Making Lists: Keeping lists are extremely useful for giving ourselves the credit that we deserve for the progress that we make. Most of the time the steps we make in the right direction are never acknowledged and easily forgotten.

"Giving credit where credit is due is a very rewarding habit to form. It's rewards are inestimable."

- Loretta Young

Lists are our memory. If it is not necessary to use the free parking spots up at our memory bank, than don't! Writing it down will free up some of the obligation and worry to remember tasks, events, and people for extended periods of time.

TRY IT

Use your technology of choice, such as, an Ipad, Iphone, Droid, or if you are still living in the stone age, a pad of paper and set alarms to complete tasks or use the "to do list apps".

*YouTime Coaching's Recommended Pick*

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For those of you who have the new Iphone or Ipad use the "Reminders" application that comes loaded on the device.

This application is perfect to use for 3 reasons.

1. Extremely easy and clear to navigate

2. Tracks how many tasks you have completed to date

3. Tracks what days you have completed the tasks

This lets you know what days you may be more productive!

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Another exercise involving a list that can have a great impact on your daily life is call, "Eliminating Time Wasters". 

 

How this works:

Write down the things you have to do tomorrow in 3 columns.

Column 1 (high priority) - "Must Do"
 Column 2 (mild priority) - "Should Do"
Column 3 (low priority) - "Could Do"


This simple activity brings everything back to childhood, WHEN IT WAS SIMPLE.
If you do your chores, then you can go out and play!


Try both these "List" activities in the next coming week and share with me on my Blog, Facebook, or Twitter how it worked out!

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1. Acronyms: These are just another tiny tool that packs a powerful punch to help make things that are sometimes hard to understand or remember quite easy. 

The first acronym I want you to put in your head is, K.I.S.S.

Answering questions such as, "Why do I keep going back to my old eating habits?", "Why do I always end up alone?", or "Why am I always tired?" can be managed far greater when you take the first step and remind yourself of, "K.I.S.S".

If you take a step back from the situation, observe who the players are, and what the outcome of the situation actually means to you, you will have an easier and simpler way of understanding things.

Constantly repeat in your mind "K.I.S.S." when you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. Most likely you have not been obeying this rule if you are already stressed and anxious.


Acronyms and Setting Goals

Almost 50% of people make New Year's Resolutions,
yet 90% fail to reach those goals!

An acronym that will make you one step closer to being a master goal setter and achieving success is, S.M.A.R.T.

I challenge you...

Create a goal, contact YouTime Coaching through email, Facebook, or Twitter and we will work through the S.M.A.R.T. method of goal setting to get your on the path to fulfilling your first goal of the New Year!


Check out this link for useful information on the S.M.A.R.T. method:

SMART Goal Setting