by Debbie Woodbury, founder WhereWeGoNow.com
The moon is brighter since the barn burned. Matsuo Basho
My yoga teacher Barbara recently shared a New York Times article with me about a doctor who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. In her book, "Red Sunshine," (Amazon Associates link.) Dr. Kimberley Allison, talks about how positive thinking helped her endure her challenging treatments. Barbara circled two paragraphs in the article:
One of the drugs often given to women with breast cancer is Adriamycin, a bright red liquid delivered intravenously. Many patients call it the "red devil" because of its terrible side effects - severe nausea, constipation, mouth sores and serious declines in white blood cells that protect against infections.
But Dr. Allison said she renamed the drug “red sunshine” and chose to regard the therapy “as my ally, not my enemy. I looked forward to getting it every week. Thinking of that drug as ‘red sunshine’ helped me see the positive side of a trying situation.”
At the top of the article, Barbara wrote, "Pratipaksha Bhavanam (replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.)" She explained during class that pratipaksha bhavanam is one of the sutras, or words of wisdom, from the Yoga Sutra, the guidebook of yoga written over 1000 years ago. Nowhere in the article is this concept mentioned, but Barbara immediately recognized it in action in the doctor's words.
I've said many times that no cancer patient or survivor should feel compelled to be positive at all times. I think that's an impossible standard, which causes yet another stress. Further, I don't believe for a second that cancer positive thinking alone determines outcome. There is no secret guaranteeing wellness if only we believe strongly enough. I do believe that attitude goes a long way in dealing with stress, which is damaging to our health.
I also believe that ultimately it comes down to healing. By facing cancer's losses and the gifts that arose from them through my Gifts and Losses List, I finally gave myself permission to heal. I didn't know the term at the time, but I was putting the pratipaksha bhavanam concept into action.
The Matsuo Bahto quote above stopped me in my tracks when I first read it. It's such a simple and succinct statement of how we can gain gifts through loss. No where is it said that we should be happy that the barn burned. In fact, it's pretty clear to me that the barn is a total loss. But the simple fact is that it is only because of that loss that the moon is now perceived as brighter.
If you've lived through the diagnostic and treatment phase of cancer and all of its emotional and physical side-effects, it's pretty safe to say that cancer burned down your barn. I'd love to know how you've used the concept of pratipaksha bhavanam, or turning from the negative to the positive, to bring the moon's brightness into your healing.
ABOUT: Debbie Woodbury is a cancer survivor, blogger, speaker and advocate. She created WhereWeGoNow.com, an interactive online community for cancer survivors living life beyond cancer. Join her to share and connect with other survivors!
http://www.wherewegonow.com
Twitter: DebbieWWGN
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Add a Comment4 Comments
It is an interesting concept.I think some support group or counseling time is important to put happiness back into the picture.
November 17, 2011 - 4:23pmThis Comment
Thanks Haralee:
I entirely agree with you. I did both support groups and counseling and am so grateful for the healing they brought me.
Survival > Existence,
Debbie
November 18, 2011 - 7:16amThis Comment
Hi Daisy:
My mission and that of WhereWeGoNow.com is to form a caring and sharing community for cancer survivors. You're so right that cancer isn't an easy thing to cope with, but a supportive community made all the difference for me. I really hope my story does help other women.
Thanks so much for your comment.
Survival > Existence,
Debbie
November 9, 2011 - 10:30amThis Comment
Hi DebbieWWGN,
Thanks for sharing this with EmpowHER. Cancer, is not an easy thing to cope with. But, am sure your story will help many women.
Best,
Daisy
November 9, 2011 - 8:58amThis Comment