How do you show up for yourself when you're not feeling your best? In this episode, we get vulnerable and record while we're both actually sick to talk about what it means to keep going when you're depleted.During a cancer journey, you often feel sick, tired, or completely disconnected from your body. And the easiest thing to do is isolate and push everything away. But sometimes what you need most is to show up anyway, exactly as you are.Key topics we cover:• Why we chose to record while sick and what that taught us• The self-blame spiral that happens when you get sick• Why your filter disappears when you're depleted• The pressure to be "presentable" or "on" when socializing• How to find the middle ground between pushing through and total isolation• Why complaining is actually part of processing• The safety of having a Cancer Journey Coach to vent to without repercussions• Why being sick doesn't mean you're less than normal• How to show up authentically instead of performing• Different ways to stay connected when you're not feeling 100%• Why you don't have to isolate just because you're sickWe share personal stories about showing up to treatment with and without makeup, the relief of recognizing not every thought has to be intelligent, and why connection matters even when you're feeling your worst.This conversation explores the expectation to be your "best self" and why that's not realistic or necessary when you're going through something hard. Being sick during cancer is already happening in your body. You don't need societal pressure telling you to either push through or completely disappear.You're still a full person when you're sick. You still get to want connection, wear something that makes you feel good, go to events in sweatpants, or FaceTime a friend while you each watch your own thing.The key is showing up as much as you can without being hard on yourself. Being authentic. Finding what nourishes you, even when you're depleted.Remember: you're more powerful than you realize.Connect with The Cancer Journey: Website: www.thecancerjourney.comTopics: showing up when sick, cancer fatigue, authenticity during illness, self-blame and illness, cancer journey support, isolation during cancer, being sick during cancer, cancer coaching, vulnerability, real talk about cancer

Language of Cancer: Why the Words You Use Matter for Your HealingThe language we use during cancer affects our healing and sense of self profoundly. In this episode, we explore the power of words during a cancer journey, from battle language to toxic positivity to the things we say to ourselves when no one else is listening.Cancer comes with its own vocabulary. Medical terminology we're forced to learn, cultural phrases like "fight the battle," and the constant pressure to "stay positive." But these words don't always serve us. Sometimes they create separation, resentment, or war within ourselves.Key topics we cover:• Why "battle" language feels violent and creates a win-or-lose mentality• The difference between toxic positivity, positivity, and hope• How hiding behind "I'm fine" creates separation and resentment• The power of words we say to ourselves, especially during low moments• Why "I am stupid" versus "I feel stupid" matters more than you think• How brain fog and chemo brain affect self-perception and value• The importance of having a safe space to say the worst things out loud• Why Cancer Journey Coaches create containers for complete honesty• How the words we consume at our lowest become part of our identity• The impact of being conscious about word choice throughout the dayWe share personal stories about feeling alone during stem cell transplant recovery, catching ourselves in negative self-talk, and the physical response our bodies have to words like "gentle" and "kind." We discuss how cultural cancer language (ribbons, survivors, warriors) can create pressure rather than support.This conversation explores the three types of words that matter: the words we use with others, the words we consume from media and people around us, and the words we say to ourselves internally. All three shape our cancer experience profoundly.When you're at a low point during cancer, you need someone who understands that you need an extremely safe space to release whatever is vibrating in the back of your head. Not advice. Not someone telling you what you should say or feel. Just space to let it out and discover what's actually true underneath.Your body is listening to everything you say.Remember: you're more powerful than you realize.Connect with The Cancer Journey: Website: www.thecancerjourney.comTopics: cancer language, battle language, toxic positivity, words matter, cancer journey, self-talk during cancer, hope vs positivity, cancer coaching, emotional support, healing language, cancer experience, brain fog, chemo brain

Cancer and Relationships: How Connections Change During Your Journey

How do relationships change during a cancer journey, and what do you really need from the people in your life? In this episode, we explore the complex dynamics that shift when cancer becomes part of your story.

Cancer changes you, which means it changes every relationship. From your doctors to your family, from your partner to your friends, each connection transforms in different ways. We discuss what happens when you become the center of attention, why that can feel both validating and vulnerable, and how to navigate the messiness of needing support while also wanting to protect the people you love.Connect with The Cancer Journey: Website: https://thecancerjourney.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecancerjourney/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mycancercoach/Key topics we cover:• How cancer shifts your relationship with yourself and with the diagnosis itself• Why some people you expected to show up disappear, and how to handle that• The vulnerability of becoming the center of attention during active treatment• Why no one person can be everything you need (and why that's okay)• How to recognize what different people in your life are actually good at providing• The exhaustion of trying to protect everyone while going through treatment yourself• Why asking for specific support is so hard but so necessary• How to handle the fear of being "too much" or talking about cancer too often• The power of having a Cancer Journey Coach as your clean, judgment-free container• Why clarity about your needs transforms every relationship for the better

We share personal stories about learning that partners can't always provide emotional support the way we need, why girlfriends might need breaks from heavy conversations, and how Cancer Journey Coaches create space for unlimited processing without the weight of managing the relationship itself.

This conversation is for anyone navigating cancer as a patient, survivor, thriver, or caregiver. It's for anyone who has felt torn between needing support and not wanting to burden others, or anyone searching for clarity about what they actually need from the relationships in their life.

Cancer Journey Coaches provide trained, tool-equipped support that helps you process emotions, work through confusion, and gain clarity without worrying about taking up too much space or time. It's the safe container where you can be completely yourself.

Remember: you're more powerful than you realize.Topics: cancer relationships, cancer support, relationship changes during cancer, cancer journey, asking for help, vulnerability in cancer, cancer caregivers, emotional support, cancer coaching, setting boundaries during cancer, communication during illness

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction and PESH Check-in

03:45 How Relationships Change During Cancer

09:20 Becoming the Center of Attention

15:30 The Desire to Protect Loved Ones

22:15 No One Person Can Be Everything

28:40 Recognizing What Different People Offer

34:50 The Vulnerability of Asking for Support

41:20 Why Cancer Journey Coaches Create Clean Containers

48:35 Finding Clarity in Your Relationships

55:10 Final Takeaways and Closing PESH

What are allies on your cancer journey, and how can you find support in unexpected places? In this episode, we explore the concept of allies as more than just people who show up for you.We dive into why traditional support systems sometimes fall short during cancer, and how expanding your definition of "ally" can open up entirely new possibilities for feeling held, resourced, and nourished. From nature walks to warm soup, from movement to music, from gratitude to simply being willing to try something new, allies can show up in countless forms.Key topics we cover:• What allies really are (people, places, things, and actions)• Why some people disappear during your cancer journey and how to navigate that• The concept of attachment and what healthy support actually looks like• Why you are your own best ally• How to recognize what truly nourishes your soul• The importance of being open and willing to receive support in new forms• Why trying something new (even if it doesn't work) is valuable• The fluid nature of allies and why that's actually freeingWe share personal stories, including an experience with wooden trolls in a garden and how nature became a powerful source of healing. We also discuss the practical side of building your list of allies so that when you're feeling low or slipping into the pit, you have concrete ways to shift your energy and find your way back to yourself.This conversation is for anyone navigating cancer as a patient, survivor, thriver, or caregiver. It's for anyone who has felt alone even when people are around, or who is searching for more ways to feel supported on this journey.Remember: you're more powerful than you realize.Connect with The Cancer Journey: www.thecancerjourney.comTopics: cancer support, cancer allies, cancer journey, emotional support during cancer, finding support, cancer caregivers, holistic cancer support, cancer empowerment, self-advocacy, cancer communityChapters: 00:00 Introduction and PESH Check-in 02:15 Defining Allies Beyond Just People 08:30 When Expected Support Disappears 15:45 Attachment and Healthy Support 22:10 You Are Your Own Best Ally 28:35 Examples of Unexpected Allies 35:20 The Process of Discovering Your Allies 42:15 Flexibility and Grace in Finding Support 48:30 Final Takeaways and Closing PESH

Resentment hides in the shadows and builds from things you tell yourself are too small to mention, until it eclipses the love in relationships that matter most. In this final episode of our Hard Emotion Series, we explore why resentment is so common on a cancer journey and how to address the "pinch" before it becomes unbearable.#CancerJourney #Resentment #PatientAdvocacyWHAT WE EXPLORE IN THIS EPISODE:Resentment is that knot in your stomach that starts as a ping—something small like dishes left on the sink or a dismissive tone from your doctor. Each time you swallow the feeling and tell yourself it's not worth mentioning, you add another layer. Before you know it, you're bitter, avoiding appointments, or considering walking away from relationships that actually matter.On a cancer journey, resentment shows up constantly. You're expected to be grateful for everything anyone gives you, even when it's not what you need. You don't want to "stir the pot" with your medical team. You silence yourself because "it's not worth making it a big deal." But that's gaslighting yourself: if an emotion came up, it matters.We discuss why passive aggression is often resentment trying to find its voice, how power dynamics in medical relationships make this worse, and practical ways to notice when something "pinches" so you can address it before resentment builds. The key insight: if a relationship can't stand up to you having your voice, was it worth having?This conversation offers guidance for cancer patients navigating difficult medical relationships, caregivers feeling unheard, and anyone learning to advocate for themselves without passive aggression or silent suffering.

In part three of our Hard Emotion Series, we explore Disappointment—the heart-dropping-into-your-stomach feeling that makes you want to blame yourself, fix it immediately, or avoid feeling it altogether.This episode offers compassionate guidance for anyone navigating the inevitable disappointments of a cancer journey while maintaining hope and finding new paths forward.Join our community at: thecancerjourney.com#CancerJourney #Disappointment #HeartEmotionSeries #Hope #EmotionalHealth #CancerSupport #ProcessingEmotions #Grief #Resilience #CancerCoaching #Healing #Authenticity #CancerCommunity #CancerAwareness #CancerSurvivor

In part two of our Hard Emotion Series, we dive into the emotions most people are afraid to name honestly: Anger and Rage. These aren't just frustration or being upset, they're powerful energies that carry immense judgment in our culture, making them the emotions we suppress most.We explore the crucial difference between anger (when a boundary gets crossed) and rage (when boundaries get crossed repeatedly until you feel invisible). They discuss why we avoid these emotions, how that avoidance actually makes things worse, and the clean versus dirty ways to release this energy.For anyone on a cancer journey, boundaries get violated constantly—by your body, the medical system, well-meaning loved ones. This episode offers a compassionate framework for acknowledging and working with these taboo emotions instead of suppressing them until they explode.Join our community: www.thecancerjourney.com#CancerJourney #Anger #Rage #HeartEmotionSeries #EmotionalHealth #Boundaries #CancerSupport #ProcessingEmotions #SelfCompassion #CancerCoaching #MentalHealth #EmotionalIntelligence #Authenticity #CancerCommunity #Healing

Some emotions are often labeled "taboo" but are essential parts of being human, especially on a cancer journey, and we're digging into them with our Hard Emotions Series.

We're starting with Fear because it's the emotion we hear about most from anyone navigating cancer. Not just fear of dying, but fear of what happens to loved ones, fear of losing control, fear of judgment, and the cascade of fears that can feel overwhelming.

#CancerJourney #Fear #HardEmotionSeries #CancerSupport #EmotionalHealing #CancerCoaching #Vulnerability #Bravery #ProcessingFear #CancerCommunity #MentalHealth #Courage #Authenticity #CancerSurvivors #Caregivers

Take a behind-the-scenes look at our recent Earth & Essence event at Filoli Gardens, where we brought together people at all stages of their cancer journeys for an afternoon of nature, reflection, and community.In this episode, Shariann and Alicia share insights from watching participants explore the manicured gardens and the imperfect forest trail with trolls, and how both paths offered exactly what different people needed. They explore why solo reflection time in nature before community sharing created space for authentic connections and unexpected collaborations.From roses that smell like lychee to trolls asking "What do I hear when I get quiet?" this conversation reveals how structured, safe spaces can help people reconnect with themselves amid the chaos of cancer treatment and caregiving.#CancerJourney #NatureHealing #CommunitySupport #CancerSupport #Reflection #Mindfulness #FiloliGardens #CancerSurvivors #Caregivers #Healing #Authenticity #SelfCare

We get real about the pressure to "stay positive" during cancer treatment and offer a different approach, one that makes space for ALL your emotions while still moving toward healing and hope.This conversation is for anyone tired of forced positivity, anyone feeling stuck in difficult emotions, or anyone ready to discover the power they have to shift their healing journey through perspective.Website: thecancerjourney.comFollow us for more content on transforming your cancer journey.Remember: You're so much more powerful than you realize🧡#CancerJourney #PerspectiveHealing #CancerSupport #EmotionalHealing #Hope #CancerCoaching