#344 Crisis

Let’s wrap up our series on Conquering Cancer by finishing where we started.

We know that one of the best ways to fight cancer (and lengthen our telomeres and enjoy our lives!) is to respond to life’s stressors with a Challenge response rather than a Threat response.

David Servan-Schreiber tells us that a cancer diagnosis can be an incredibly catalyzing experience. It certainly was for him. In fact, he says that he was healthier after his diagnosis than he was before.

My brother Rick has had the same experience so far. He describes his experience as a wake up call. He and his awesome wife Kristin have made a near-complete 180 on their nutrition. She’s even said that, as terrifying as the experience has been and as challenging as the road ahead is, she’s excited about the changes they’re making and the opportunity to use this wake up call to Optimize.

Which leads us to the Chinese representation of the word “crisis.”

As you may know, in Chinese the word “crisis” is made up two characters: “danger” + “opportunity.”

Danger + Opportunity.

A crisis — whether it’s a cancer diagnosis or a job loss or some other traumatic event — is unquestionably frightening and dangerous.

And…

There’s an opportunity to use to the energy from our crisis to step up and into the best version of ourselves.

In fact, Servan-Schreiber tells us that connecting to the life force within ourselves and cultivating our passionate will to live is actually THE best protection we can ever have.

So…

Today’s +1. Let’s step back from any crisis you may be facing. See the danger. See the opportunity.

Pray for the serenity to accept the things you cannot change. And pray for the courage to change the things you can.

Let’s alchemize the crisis antifragile style and use it to as a catalyst into being more fully alive, present, serene, courageous and wise than ever before.