Last weekend I had the opportunity to be an exhibitor at the YSC national summit for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. It was such an amazing experience to connect with others who have been through similar circumstances. I had a lot of meaningful conversations with attendees and other exhibitors, the energy of sharing purpose and passion is invigorating.
In this world of technology, we don’t always get the opportunity to meet face-to-face. I am forever grateful for both technology and the ability to meet face-to-face, because both help us to decrease isolation and increase our ability to feel better, knowing that we are not alone and that many of our concerns are shared. As the Swedish proverb reminds us:
Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow
I am still digesting the experience of being surrounded by my community, so in honor of that this week’s post is about maintaining the connection to the connections that nourish us. Often we can’t have ongoing face-to-face time with our community, so finding a way to hold onto the experience is just as important as having it.
I like the image of a camel, a beautiful and strong animal who can store away the energy of food and water to allow it to pass through a dessert, where resources will be scarce. A camel can go a long time without replenishing its stores, yet the camel must be mindful of its needs, so that it can survive.
Taking this metaphor of the camel, can you take a moment to recall a time in your life in which you felt really connected with others. A time in which you felt understood and in which you gave the gift of understanding. What do you notice? How does it make you feel? Can you visualize (or draw) what your camel hump looks like? What does the hump need to easily circulate this nourishing energy throughout your system?
If you happen to be one of those people who struggles to add yourself to a priority list, you may often walk a very fine line between that which is necessary for survival and that which is harmful self-depletion. If that is the case, it is really important to work with someone who can support you in examining why this is and what needs to change in order to shift the cycle. In my work with others, I often find it is our deep seeded beliefs that drive these actions of deprivation and depletion. If this sounds familiar to you, set up a consultation call to explore the possibility of working together.
– Stephanie McLeod-Estevez, LCPC, is an art therapist and breast cancer survivor, and a former oncology counselor at the Dempsey Center. I began Creative Transformations to help others who are healing from a life threatening illness or injury. Through Creative Transformations, I work with people in person and online to offer cancer coaching, an Art as Therapy program, workshops, and this weekly blog. Check out the individual packages I offer. Sign up today so you never miss a blog and find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.