Week 4: Breaking the Mold & Reclaiming Personal Power

⚔ Warrior’s Law: You Are Not Who You Were—And That’s Okay

You do not have to return to who you were before cancer. You have the power to decide who you become.

The Death of Who You Were—And the Birth of Who You Are

Cancer does something few people talk about—it reshapes you entirely.

Your body changes.

Your mind changes.

Your priorities, beliefs, and values shift.

You are not the same person who entered this journey.

For some, that’s terrifying.

For others, it’s freeing.

For many, it’s both.

But here’s the truth:

You don’t have to return to who you were.

You get to choose who you become.

Warrior’s Code #14: Let Go of the Old You – Honor who you were, but embrace who you are becoming.

Warrior’s Code #1: Claim Your Power – Cancer does not define you; you define how you fight it.

Do you let cancer consume your identity?

Do you cling to the past, trying to fit into a mold that no longer exists?

Or do you step forward and embrace the person you are now?

This is your moment of rebirth.

Faith, Judgment, and Finding Meaning on Your Own Terms

People often turn to faith in times of suffering. And for many, it becomes a powerful anchor of hope and healing.

For me, faith has always looked a little different. I’ve never been traditionally religious, though I’ve always believed in something greater than myself—whether that’s fate, destiny, or the quiet pull of karma guiding me forward.

When it came to church, my experience was more complex.

Even as a child, I struggled to connect with what I witnessed in certain religious spaces.

Instead of feeling like a sanctuary, some environments felt like places of expectation—where worth was sometimes measured by appearance, status, or offering, rather than the heart.

I saw people shamed for how they dressed or what they gave, without consideration for the very real barriers they faced. Not everyone begins life from the same starting line, and sometimes, that truth was overlooked.

But I also know that faith means different things to different people—and many find deep strength and community in their churches. I honor that.

For me, cancer didn’t push me away from faith—it helped me define it on my own terms. It gave me the courage to live authentically, spiritually, and with compassion—without shame, and without needing to fit a mold that was never mine to begin with.

Warrior’s Code #10: Faith and Science Can Coexist – Lean into both; healing is mental, spiritual, and medical.

Some find it in scripture and prayer.

Others find it in quiet reflection, nature, or intuition.

Whatever your path, it should strengthen you—not shame you.

Rewriting My Worth – The CWRU Moment

I grew up in the hood, just around the corner from Case Western Reserve University.

But in my mind, that school wasn’t for me.

I didn’t think I was "enough" to attend.

I wasn’t the “right” kind of student.

The stereotypes said I wasn’t worthy.

But cancer shattered that mindset.

Warrior’s Code #15: Rest is Resistance – Healing requires you to slow down and listen to your body.

Warrior’s Code #18: Rewrite Your Definition of Beauty – Scars, hair loss, and changes don’t make you less—only different.

I pursued my degree at CWRU not to prove anything, but because I wanted it—and I earned it.

Cancer didn’t just change how I saw life.

It changed how I saw myself.

It showed me that my worth is mine to define.

The Year of Self-Renovation: Rebuilding with Intention

After completing treatment, I dedicated a year to rebuilding myself—not to become who I used to be, but to become who I was meant to be.

I called it my Year of Self-Renovation.

During that time, I focused on:

✔ Becoming the person I wanted to be—not what others expected

✔ Understanding my limits, triggers, and energy sources

✔ Identifying the people and things that drained me✔ Building a shield to protect myself emotionally

Warrior’s Code #7: Energy is Currency – Spend it wisely.

Warrior’s Code #17: Mental Strength Over Physical Weakness – Even when your body struggles, let your mind lead the way.

And when I began coursework at Case, I realized something powerful—So much of what I was learning, I already knew.

The knowledge had always been in me.

It just needed to be shaped and strengthened.

If not for cancer, would I have remained a bar of steel waiting to be molded—never realizing I needed to carry myself into the forge?

Who Are You Now? Relearning Yourself After Cancer

Cancer doesn’t just leave physical scars.

It reshapes how you see:

✔ The world

✔ Relationships

✔ Time

✔ Yourself

You’ve been reforged in fire.

Now, you must reintroduce yourself to yourself.

Warrior’s Code #16: Silence the Inner Critic – Your mind should be your ally, not your enemy.

Self-Discovery Exercises Based on Your Stage of the Journey

Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, use these reflection exercises to understand yourself gradually—based on where you are in your journey.

🛡 For the Newly Diagnosed – Understanding the Present

• What was the first thought that crossed my mind when I was diagnosed?

• What fears feel the loudest right now?

• Who do I want in my corner during this journey?

• What parts of myself do I want to protect no matter what?

• What small thing brings me comfort today?

📓 Revisit this every few months to see how your answers evolve.

🛡 For Those in the Middle of Treatment – Navigating Change

• What’s something I’ve learned about myself that I didn’t expect?

• How do I handle frustration, fear, or sadness? Is that how I want to continue responding?

• Have my relationships changed? If so, how?

• What boundaries do I need to protect my energy?

• Who has stepped up as a Guardian? Who has revealed themselves as a Vampire?

📓 This is a time of deep adjustment. Be gentle with yourself.

🛡 For Those Who Have Completed Treatment – Reclaiming Your Power

• What brings me joy now? Has it changed?

• What drains my energy—and how can I protect it?

• What do I value most in life now?

• What fears still linger, and how do I face them?

• What kind of relationships do I want moving forward?

📓 This is your invitation to fully step into your rebirth.

Embracing the Fire – You Were Not Meant to Stay the Same

🔥 Cancer was the fire that reshaped me.

It burned away doubt.

It melted down fear.

It reforged me into something stronger than I ever imagined.

Warrior’s Code #19: Know When to Surrender, Know When to Fight – Strength is in knowing the difference.

Warrior’s Code #20: You Are a Warrior, Not a Victim – The mindset you adopt determines how you conquer.

You, too, have been through the forge.

Now the question becomes:

What will you do with your power?