In the past week, I met with several people who have faced serious health challenges, cancer, triple bypass surgery, and other major illnesses. The one thing that stood out to me was their attitude toward their situation.
One person who had undergone triple bypass surgery was very optimistic and still loved life. Another person with the same condition was more negative. The cancer patients were naturally worried, but many of them still maintained a positive attitude, even while realizing that life might soon be coming to an end.
Some of the cancer patients had stage-four cancer and had been given only a short time to live. Yet in a few cases, their attitude seemed to help them recover, sometimes with chemotherapy and sometimes without it.
The Power of Surrender and Natural Healing
Many of them reached a point where they surrendered and allowed life to heal itself after trying everything else. Some visualized healthy cells overcoming the cancer cells, and for some reason it seemed to help. They also changed their lifestyles to reduce stress. They prayed often and focused on maintaining a hopeful outlook. In their own way, they were using their natural energy.
Spirituality, in many ways, is about using energy for health, happiness, and well-being. Those who survived seemed to approach life with that mindset. They looked for possible solutions and practiced gratitude rather than focusing on negativity.
Resilience, Hope, and the Healing Mindset
You might say that their positive thinking helped them face the problem. They managed extremely stressful situations with resilience. By maintaining hope and optimism, many of them improved their mental state, which in turn supported their healing.
Before becoming ill, many of them relied mostly on their own self-confidence. But during their illness they turned to a higher power, whether that meant their soul, God, or a deeper spiritual force. One woman I know had cancer several times but remained very optimistic. She lived more than a dozen years after her initial diagnosis. She prayed often and trusted that nature would do its work.
Often life is not fully within our control. When you surrender to that reality, you can sometimes gain a sense of peace and allow other forces, faith, hope, and the body’s natural healing ability, to support you.
Turning Illness Into a Learning Opportunity
Most of the people I met turned their experience into a learning opportunity. Some did not like the lesson they were given, but instead of seeing their illness only as a problem, they tried to grow from it. Many practiced affirmations and visualizations, which helped reduce stress and supported their body’s ability to heal.
Many also joined support groups or organizations where they could meet others facing the same challenges. Sharing experiences with people who understood their situation proved to be very comforting.
Choosing How We Live
So what can we learn from these people? One lesson is that when our time eventually comes, there may be little we can do to change it. But until that moment arrives, we can choose how we live. We can trust the process of life and remain open to hope.
When I look back at all of these situations, the common theme was energy. Those who maintained positive energy often seemed to have a stronger life force.
That, in many ways, is the essence of One Love: raising your level of consciousness so that you support life with love and peace.
A Morning Practice That Can Change Your Day
Each morning when I wake up, I say a prayer and try to place myself in a positive state of mind. I speak words that resonate deeply with me, words that support life and gratitude. You might try it yourself and see whether your day feels different compared to mornings when you simply get up and move through your routine.
As I have grown older, I have found that resetting my body and mind each day makes a real difference. We hope you will give it a try.
