[Ailist] How to stay positive with cancer?

[Billie Alban]

I think Voyle suggestions are very good. I agree about not having this pollyannaish. The pain and difficulty needs to be acknowledged, and then the questions about what what is life giving, and what are some of the blessings that surround you at this moment? A more difficult problem is when people are in a lot of pain, so much that?they cannot think or talk. As a hospice trained person, I have sat and song songs to people, sometimes hymns, sometimes show tunes.








Billie T Alban

Alban & Williams, LTD.

400 Seabury Dr

Bloomfield, CT 06002

tel: 860 242-9662

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-----Original Message-----

From: Rob Voyle <rob at voyle.com>

To: Michael L. Schwartz <mschwartz at positiveconcepts.biz>; ailist at lists.business.utah.edu

Sent: Sun, 9 Nov 2008 4:21 pm

Subject: Re: [Ailist] How to stay positive with cancer?





Hi Michael    I wonder whether trying to stay positive can create a problem, because it also   calls negative into consciouness. And trying to stay positive when much negative     stuff is happening may actually get people to become phoney and deny their   current experience.  Rather than trying to stay positive I would wonder about   focussing on what is life-giving. At the group, what would happend if the   participants shared stories of what they had found life-giving in the past week.       In a semon the Sunday after 9/11 my associate Chris Rankin-Williams said "the   challenge of this life is not to stay alive, the challenge of this life is to   stay in   love."  So I would also wonder where people see and find love, for I know that   in   the midst of love I am in a positive frame.    Best Wishes    Rob      Robert J. Voyle, Psy.D.  Director, Clergy Leadership Institute  For Coaching and Training in Appreciative Inquiry  Author: Core Elements of the Appreciative Way   http://www.clergyleadership.com/  503-647-2378 or 503-647-2382     On 9 Nov 2008 at 13:08, Michael L. Schwartz wrote:    > Hi all,  >   >    >   > As a Cancer survivor, I regularly attend meetings at Gilda's Club.  > Gilda's  > Club was set-up by Gene Wilder and Michael Radner, following the  > death of  > Gilda Radner to cancer, as a place where anyone "touched by cancer"  > can go  > for support.  >   >    >   > In a recent Men's Group meeting, the subject of staying positive  > came up.  > Two items in particular:  >   > 1.      How important a positive attitude is.  >   > 2.      How can we remain positive with all the "challenges" faced  > in  > recovery.  >   >    >   > I think an AI approach could help and I would like to do something  > of this  > nature for my local Gilda's Club.  >   >    >   > I am seeking any suggestions as to how to structure this.  >   >    >   > The Men's Group typically has between 4 and 10 attendees
, and meets  > for 2  > hours.  >   >    >   > Alternatively, this could be offered to all members of the local  > Gilda's. We  > would still have about 2 hours. I have seen groups range from 6 to  > 30+.  >   >    >   > Any advise would be greatly appreciated.  >   >    >   > Thank you.  >   >    >   > Michael L Schwartz, PE, PMP  >   > President  >   > Positive Concepts, Inc.  >   > Phone: 248 828 7701  >   > Fax: 248 828 7708  >   > Email: MSchwartz at PositiveConcepts.biz  >   > Web: www.PositiveConcepts.biz  >   >    >   >    >   > Enhancing the positive.  >   >    >   > _______________________________________________  > The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David  > Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain  > is the list administrator. For subscription information, go to:  > http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist      _______________________________________________  The Appreciative Inquiry Discussion List is hosted by the David Eccles School of   Business at the University of Utah. Jack Brittain is the list administrator. For   subscription information, go to:  http://mailman.business.utah.edu:8080/mailman/listinfo/ailist