Thoughts For The Jewish New Year

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Fall Equinox is almost at the same time as the Jewish New Year, and the Eritrean culture also celebrated their New Year last week.

So it’s important to think about the message being given to us.

All religions and cultures celebrations contain similarities – gathering of family, friends and community, special foods that represent the possibility for new beginnings, and a time for reflection.

It’s the reflection I’d like to focus on here.

Our society encourages us to be busy all the time – running errands, taking care of other people, managing the household and your out of the house work – to the point there’s barely a moment to think.

Reflection is different from meditation, or prayer.

Reflective thinking involves taking into consideration the “bigger picture” of your life and beginning to consider the consequences of your actions and thoughts.

There are three steps to reflection:

1. Becoming Self-Aware

The entire experience of breast cancer can be overwhelming – the discovery of a lump and the diagnosis of breast cancer are always a shock and the entire experience can feel rushed and 

It’s through these months that you begin to discover a strength and resilience you didn’t know you had. This can help shape how you approach recovery and how you will restore your life after breast cancer.

2. Seeking Improvement

As you become aware of situations which are challenging, and areas where you feel where you feel strong, you discover how to shift your focus and energy.

This helps you stay strong in your commitment to move forward in recovering your health and wellness.

3. Empower Yourself

I named my live group coaching program Empowered Against Recurrence because the act of becoming empowered is what women need now, especially after a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Empowerment enables you to stay connected to your core beliefs – about who you are and how you want to live your life.

Empowerment enables you to be aware of options and possibilities, and makes choices that encourage a healthy way of living. 

All of this happens when you allow yourself a few minutes every day to sit quietly and go inside.

It’s a very powerful statement you make each time you do it –

You’re making decisions that uplift and inspire… 

You’re harnessing your power to chart the course of your journey.

Each moment of reflection is a stepping stone towards a life defined not by your challenges, but by the changes you create inside.