The new year can be a time filled with promise, beginnings, and a fresh outlook. But a cancer diagnosis can make it hard to consider the road ahead. What value is there in setting goals if the future feels uncertain? Let's come together to talk about the topic of "Making Meaning and the Road Ahead". Together we will dig deep to better understand what the research shows us about the benefits of purpose and meaning, talk about what your unique response may teach you, and share with one another thoughts on facing today and planning for tomorrow. Let’s Talk About It!
2. CHECKING IN ON YOU.
•A Beginning = An Opportunity to Reflect.
•Take a Balanced Inventory
•Insightful Pause
•Ask Questions…How does it feel to set goals?
•Intentions vs. Resolutions
Julie Larson, LCSW -
Psychotherapist
8. RESEARCH
ON
MEANING
MAKING
• Lower mental distress
• Higher Marital
Satisfaction
• Better Physical Health
• Adjustment – Capacity to
cope with hardship
• Resilience – Flexibility,
Perseverance,
Competence,
Connection
Mackay & Bullock, 2010; Park 2010; Kegan 1980, Sales,
Jessica M.; Merrill, Natalie A.; Fivush, Robyn (2013);
Julie Larson, LCSW -
Psychotherapist
9. THE IMPACT OF MEANING MAKING
Julie Larson, LCSW -
Psychotherapist
10. GIVE YOURSELF THIS TIME
•What have you been proud of?
•Are there any new travelers on your life
journey?
•How have you been influenced by others?
•Is your distress trying to teach you?
•Notice your calm and peaceful moments
•Notice when you feel energy and motivated
•Notice when you feel valued
Julie Larson, LCSW -
Psychotherapist
11. PAY CLOSE ATTENTION
•What brings you joy?
•What values do you want to guide you?
•What unmet needs are driving distress?
•How do you want to show up to the day?
Julie Larson, LCSW -
Psychotherapist
12. FOCUS: ZOOM IN & ZOOM
OUT
BEGIN LISTENING CLOSELY TO YOURSELF.
MEANING AND IDENTITY EVOLVE AND EMERGE OVER TIME.
ALLOW FOR THE WAVES OF UNDERSTANDING & UNCERTAINTY
Julie Larson, LCSW -
Psychotherapist
Editor's Notes
Assumptions – I figured you would probably really love this mug. You probably never get stressed by the small stuff anymore.
Great Expectations – You should really write a book. You can’t waste this experience, you have to do something with your survivorship.
Fortune Telling – You are destined to do something significant because of this.
Judgement – Don’t you think its about time you stopped being upset and move on.
Attention – Who doesn’t crave some attention? And, after feeling alone, the attention and care from others feels nice.
Perfection – Pressure to do cancer “well”; ward off recurrence or progression
Holding on – Can be hard to shift focus; fear of minimizing or diminishing significance
Comparisons – measuring stick; competition; compensation
Who is Viktor Frankl – his life work.
Heintzelman & King argue that finding meaning is an adapative function for survival.
Another prominient researcher in the work of meaning making has found that meaning making, when successful, leads to better adjustment to the stressful event.