Start each day from the position of gratitude writing down the three things you are grateful for. Start an accountability group and share your daily gratitude with each other.

• Please write down right now three things you are grateful for.

• Please continue to do this daily and reap the benefits.

Expressing gratitude is associated with a host of mental and physical benefits. Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood, and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain, and risk of disease.

"The boat doesn't sink because it is surrounded by water, it sinks because the boat allowed the water to enter." Warren Buffett

This quote I believe has been fundamental to my health and well-being. I have remained quite businesslike with my approach to dealing with this Stage IV Rectal Cancer diagnosis.

If you allow those emotions of fear, uncertainty, doom, and gloom to enter your body you will sink just like the boat! Keep the water out.

From the second you are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, your life is turned upside down.

Your life is suddenly endless specialist appointments, blood tests, scans, treatments, and then repeat.

I am now entering my 18th month of treatment. The Prince of Wales Hospital is my office. I do income-producing work whilst having chemo.

I have not allowed my emotions to enter my ship. Focus on what IS rather than what IF.

The following lectures will give you actionable steps to make up a process that can assist you at this time!

As the saying goes, "You become the average of the five people you spend the most time with, and there is nothing you can do about it."

Be around loving, positive, and uplifting people and most importantly the best medical team you can.

Friends and family are not doctors and specialists in oncology or whatever you may be suffering.

You may be confronted with an avalanche of messages and phone calls from well-meaning family and friends.

Just because they know someone who went through this doesn’t mean they are doctors.

ONE VOICE otherwise it gets very confusing and Loud! If you are not happy with your medical team, seek a second opinion, you are not married to them!

You get to choose your response to this situation. I repeat the word “CHOOSE”. Back to SINK or SWIM!!

Move away from all negativity, stories of other people, and their prognosis. Every cancer is different, every experience is different and this is your race to stay alive. Avoid all the noise and put your trust in one voice your medical team.

Commit to getting better mentally and physically. This is done by creating good habits. It will include exercise, diet, meditation, yoga, or things that make you happy. There are endless things we can do to give us joy. Find your bliss and follow it!

To me, Purpose is Ideas, Conversation, Connection, and most importantly being part of a community of like-minded people.

The things you speak are the things you have in your life.

This is what PURPOSE gives you a reason to get up each morning.

• PURPOSE IS A POWERFUL WORD AND IF YOU PEEL THE LAYERS BACK LIKE AN ONION AND GO TO THE CORE YOU WILL FIND ANOTHER WORD – ITS IMPACT!

• WHERE CAN YOU USE YOUR STRENGTHS TO CREATE THE MOST IMPACT!!

• IMPACT GIVES YOU EFFECTIVE DIRECTION.

CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU CAN USE YOUR TIME EFFECTIVELY YOU WILL CREATE ACTUAL EVIDENCE OF YOUR SUCCESS?

In my case, in 2022, I raised over $85,000 for the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute for research into rare cancers. Rare cancers get little funding however we now know that one out of four cancer patients has rare cancer.

Whatever is holding you back – anger, bitterness, pain, negativity – let it go. We are all on the same time clock and none of us know when the clock will stop.

Holding onto those types of thoughts can hinder your recovery.

In the case of pain, I am a big believer in pain management. Seek the advice of your medical team right from the beginning on how best to deal with your pain.

This is a top priority and something that requires discussion right from the beginning of your treatment.

I had excruciating pain during my 30 radiotherapy sessions.  Most afternoons after radiotherapy I was in the fetal position on the couch in agony! Once the pain was under control I was like a different person.

Take control over what you can control!

Don’t stress over the little things in life.

You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the present day. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

Be strong and proud, both inside and out.

Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong. ”

Embrace your golden years, don’t become bitter and surly.

Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, your days will be much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

Don’t abandon your hobbies.

If you don’t have any, make some new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, and dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, and golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some time having fun with it.

Accept invitations, even if you don’t feel like it.

Try to go to baptisms, parties, graduations, birthdays, weddings, and conferences. Experience something new or something old, but don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums or go walk through a park. Get out there.

Pain and discomfort go hand in hand

Try not to dwell on it but accept them as a part of the cycle of life. Try to minimize the pain with good pain relief and ease the discomfort in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

Laugh. Laugh A LOT.

Laugh at everything. Remember, to be grateful for what you have.  Find humor in every situation. Laughter is the Best Medicine

It's true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. REMEMBER: “Life is short…Live, Love, and Laugh.”

Plan your life. Have something to look forward to. Create a vision board.

Having meaning in your life is essential as it helps you contend with your cancer battle. The best way to find a vision for your life is to spend time with yourself. Get to understand what you deeply care about.

Usually, people put things into categories: Family and Friends, Community Service, Financial goals, Health and Fitness, Professional and Career, Things you want to buy, Adventure, and Travel. There are probably many more categories to choose from. Compile your categories and goals and present them on a board and stick them in front of you on your desk or a place where you often are.

Visualising your future is the best way to navigate your present.

Commit to smiling and being happy. Don’t let the illness take everything away from you. I know it is easier said than done. We all have our bad days. It is okay.

Accept them. I have literally emptied a box of tissues crying in my office with the door closed. Some days are very overwhelming however when we revert back to all the things we have and focus on having more of those things that we love, we can direct our mind to get away from those black thoughts.

I wish each and every one of you that are currently experiencing illness a long and productive life. I hope that sharing my tips above has been useful.

You can watch the full presentation next!