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

What's the difference between what you want and what you need? And why does that distinction become so crucial when you're navigating a cancer journey?In this heartfelt episode, Shariann and Alicia explore how cancer puts you center stage in your own life, forcing you to ask yourself what you actually want—not just what you need to survive, but what would make this life feel worth living.From Ryan Gosling's powerful scene in The Notebook to the vulnerability of sharing their own wants out loud, this conversation dives deep into why we often live in survival mode and how the space that cancer creates can become a sacred invitation to dream again.Asking for what you want isn't selfis it's essential. This episode is for anyone who's ever struggled to voice what they truly desire, especially those whose lives have been touched by cancer.Join our community: Website: www.thecancerjourney.com#CancerJourney #WantVsNeed #PersonalGrowth #CancerSupport #Authenticity #SelfAdvocacy #Vulnerability #CancerCoaching #LifePurpose #SelfCare #Mindfulness #CancerSurvivors #Caregivers #LifeTransformation #Desires #Dreams #CancerCommunity