Penny Casselman [00:00:00]:
When this episode drops, we'll find ourselves halfway through the month of October. And here in the US, October is marked as breast cancer awareness month. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. It just so happens that I happen to be that 1 in 8. Now my journey started in 2017 and lasted 24 months. I don't talk about it that frequently because at this point, it's kind of in my rearview mirror. Of course, it's a part of my history, but not one that I dwell on. In fact, I wrote a book about it, and that's really where most of my observations and insights are contained.
Penny Casselman [00:00:46]:
But with this being October, there are numerous insights that I took away from that experience that I do share during this episode. I would never wish this on any person. Unfortunately, you may have already experienced this yourself, or you probably know someone in your family, in your friend circle, someone at work. You have experienced this disease on the outside looking in. Here is my specific PSA. If there is a woman in your life whom you love, and that includes yourself, please be sure to get a mammogram. A mammogram is how I found out that cancer had started in my body. Without that, I'm not sure how long or how far my cancer would have spread had I not received that red flag during a routine mammogram.
Penny Casselman [00:01:54]:
Look, I get it. Mammograms don't cure cancer, but gosh darn it. They give you the best odds at catching it early and treating it so that you will never have to deal with it again. Thank you so much for letting me share my thoughts during this October breast cancer awareness month. I'm stepping off the PSA. Now let's get to the episode. Welcome to the Pivot with Passion podcast. Hi.
Penny Casselman [00:02:30]:
I'm Penny Casselman. I believe everyone is deserving of a phenomenal life. Regardless of where you came from, life is what you make of it. And when you learn to pivot with passion, your world explodes with opportunities. Go grab your favorite beverage, and let's shake things up as we explore how to pivot with passion. Welcome. Welcome, director. I hope that this finds you in a place of calm, a place of confidence, a place where you are ready to make an impact.
Penny Casselman [00:03:10]:
Last week, I offered some suggestions on how to start 2025 off with focus, with intention, and with excitement. And if you haven't listened to that episode, hop back because I think you'll walk away with some good tools in your tool belt to help you slay 2025. One of the things that I asked during that episode was, what are you not going to accomplish this year? And sometimes that's a hard pill to swallow. I know for me, there are certainly things that I had on my vision board for the beginning of this year that have yet to happen. Now there is hope. We still have over 2 months of this year to refocus and recommit to anything that we still have our sights set on and are intent on making happen. I want to ensure that along the way, we pause to honor the struggle. Whether you invited the struggle into your life by going after something new, by striving for more excellence in your life.
Penny Casselman [00:04:31]:
Going after anything that you have never done before, however, in either instance, you invited the struggle or the struggle found you, there are ways to honor the struggle so that we can keep moving forward. So often when people encounter struggle, it quickly shifts to external blame, right? I'm sure you have all heard people blame others for their problem, blame situations, blame the economy. And while yes, there are so many factors that can influence any struggle that we face, we have to be aware that the only thing that we can control is our self. So how can we approach the struggle and actually honor it as we move through it. Now when I was going through my cancer journey, I could have easily thrown my fingers out and gotten mad at my genetics because in truth, I inherited a defective gene, which predisposed me to getting cancer. I could blame technology for not catching my cancer sooner or been mad that we didn't innovate fast enough so that I wouldn't have to deal with that. But when we throw our fingers out to point to external things, that has us giving away our control. Now you may not like me saying this, and I get it.
Penny Casselman [00:06:14]:
Because if you're not used to taking full ownership of everything that is happening in your life, this could be a hard message to listen to and to internalize and embrace. But we have to honor that it is here and we have to honor our part in managing through it and getting ourselves to the other side. Because I want us to stop coining the finger external. Yes. Can we acknowledge that the struggle found us? Can we acknowledge that that the economy isn't doing exactly what we think it should do? Can we point to the way other people drive, the way other people cut in line, or don't read signs in a store? We can acknowledge facts. But I want us to go inward to reflect on how we can embrace the struggle, honor it, and keep moving forward. It's time for a clarity cocktail. Today's clarity cocktail comes from Frederick Douglass.
Penny Casselman [00:07:35]:
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Nine words, director, 9 words, and Frederick Douglass handed us a truth bomb. If there is no struggle, there is no progress. His words ring true, because yes, time will pass. It doesn't mean though that we've made progress. There is struggle in finding the best way to create something that has never been created before. Think of Henry Ford and the car, Alexander Graham Bell and the telephone. We might struggle when we're trying to adopt a new way of thinking or absorb some new knowledge.
Penny Casselman [00:08:27]:
And we might struggle with how we think of things because our mind wants to keep slipping back into old habits. I am sure that you have at some point in your life seen a graph that illustrates progress or success or achievement, and jokingly they will draw a straight line. We both know that progress and success are never a straight line. It's like an upside down roller coaster with some twists and turns and ups and downs. It is anything but straight. But with each twist and turn and loop, if we honor the struggle, we can continue to progress. The next time you face something that is causing you much frustration and struggle, remember these 9 words from Frederick Douglass. If there is no struggle, there is no progress.
Penny Casselman [00:09:34]:
So be grateful for where you're at. Everyone who has met with struggle knows on the other side is progress. And now, back to the episode. Cheers. Circling back to how can we honor the struggle? I want to offer 2 questions and one reminder as we face these challenges. The first question is, what can I learn? I promise you that within every struggle is a lesson that we can walk away with. I know for me, as I looked around during my cancer journey to find something that I could grasp onto, I focused on those things that I could control. I did a deep dive on how I could eat cleaner during the time I was heavy into treatments and therapies and surgeries and recovery.
Penny Casselman [00:10:35]:
I made that a huge focus during my struggle. I also found that I redefined what exercise was, because so many times I didn't have the full energy that I used to have. I didn't have the full range of motion that I had prior. So I would invite you as you are in the midst of a struggle. Ask yourself, what can I learn? Because there is something that you can take away from your struggle and help move you forward. The second question is, how can I practice self care? Too often in the midst of a huge struggle, we think in order to get through it, we have to stay laser focused, keep our head down, plow through, just don't think about anything else, just push, push, push to get to the other side. But director, you will burn out and you might take longer to get through the struggle you find yourself in. So how can you practice self care during a struggle? Because just like in an airplane, put your mask on first because you can't help others.
Penny Casselman [00:11:57]:
Well, certainly put your mask on first to help yourself. I know when I was going through cancer, I had to have massive amounts of patience. That is one way that I practice self care was to give myself the gift of patience and give myself grace. Another way that I practice self care was journaling. I needed to get the thoughts that were rumbling around in my head out. And the way for me to do that was to journal and provide updates to my friends and family. And honestly, that's how my book got its genesis, was from those updates that I was providing. The way I was practicing self care, I also honored my need for naps.
Penny Casselman [00:12:52]:
I still remember visiting with my oncologist and I was lamenting to him that I still was taking 2 naps a day. And he paused and politely said, Penny, you've just gone through a 6 hour surgery, it's okay that you are taking 2 naps a day. Sometimes in going through a struggle, we can lose a little perspective. I certainly lost perspective. The 2 questions in recap, 1, what can you learn about the struggle that you are going through? And 2, how can you practice self care to ensure that you can come out on the other side better, stronger, and more successful? And the one reminder I want to offer is this too shall pass. Often it was very evident that I was going through a health crisis. I was missing most of my hair, I didn't have the same level of energy, I had scars that I didn't have before. But as I stand here today, if you were to meet me on the street, in the grocery store, at a coffee shop during a happy hour, you would not know that I spent 24 months battling breast cancer.
Penny Casselman [00:14:14]:
And the further away I get from those 24 months, the more they become a faint memory. They will always be a part of my life, but I have now moved beyond that struggle. And I know director, you have not made it this far in life only to make it this far in life. You may not have battled cancer, but I guarantee you have struggled somewhere in your life and where you stand today is beyond that event. One thing I wanna invite you to consider is you are not alone. Whatever struggle you find yourself in the midst of today, someone else has gone before you and faced some of the same struggles. This is where asking for help, leaning on trusted friends, advisors will serve you well to get you beyond the struggle. I would also invite you as we head into the remainder of this year to hold fast that everyone struggles.
Penny Casselman [00:15:28]:
Every person that you encounter has, is, or will be facing a struggle of their own that you know nothing about. Like I mentioned, if you met me today and didn't know anything about my past, you would not know that I spent 24 months battling breast cancer. Every single person that you encounter, honor them for moving through the struggle with kindness, with compassion, with empathy. And remember that regardless of where you find yourself, look inward and take care of you. I know I brought up my cancer journey a lot throughout this episode and I wanna call out, please do not diminish the struggle that you find yourself facing. I heard it so often. I would meet people or gather with friends and they would, just in casual conversation, complain about something they were struggling with and then quickly say, oh, I've got nothing on you. You are facing cancer.
Penny Casselman [00:16:42]:
Here's the thing. I wanna validate every struggle is real because it's happening to you. It doesn't matter what it is. You could be struggling with how to make sourdough bread. Yes. You can compare sourdough bread to cancer. Because if sourdough bread is what you are trying to master and you are trying to progress through and you are finding it challenging because you can't get the proportions right or the yeast right or the temperature right, whatever it is, honor the struggle. I honor you.
Penny Casselman [00:17:18]:
Is sourdough bread life or death? No. Is it struggle? Yes. And so I honor that. Whatever it is you're going through, know that I see you, I believe in you, and this too shall pass. I implore you as we move through the balance of this year, honor the struggle. Director, I want you to know that you deserve a phenomenal life. And yes, that phenomenal life will come with struggle. But I want you to feel empowered to make new decisions.
Penny Casselman [00:17:59]:
Ask yourself the tough questions to help keep you moving forward. And I want you to take bold action because I know you have not made it this far only to make it this far. Until next week, director, I am cheering you on. I am honoring your struggle. And I know that this too shall pass. I can't wait to chat with you again next week. Friend, thanks for listening to this episode of pivot with passion. If you've been feeling stuck, exhausted, or frustrated, this is your permission slip to go grab a red marker and claim the life you desire and deserve.
Penny Casselman [00:18:50]:
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend, and then hop over to rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts because my goal is to put a red marker in everyone's hand, and I need your help to spread the word and make that happen. Until the next episode, go grab a red marker, Get excited for your future and make your first move to pivot with passion.
