I completed a book
review of Seth Godin's The
Dip on one of my other blogs. It's about how in business and in life there's
a trough you enter called "the dip" where the honeymoon period is over and you
have to slog it out to make it to the other side, achieving success, superstar
status, or some other form of creating a successful company or career. Hanging
out in the dip, just being average or not recognizing you don't have to
resources or commitment to see it through to the other side, is the worst case
scenario. You should quit, refocus your resources on something you can succeed
at (make it through the dip), and really apply yourself rather than just be
average. Or better yet, don't head down a path if you don't have what it takes
to make it through the dip.
I think a lot of Seth's book applies to battling breast cancer. The biggest difference is you don't get to quit, like you can other activities or pursuits in life, but being average at battling breast cancer isn't going to yield a result anyone is happy with. You can't necessarily control whether you make it just by dropping out and doing something else, but I believe you have the biggest say of all about that climb you're making to the other side. There's an undeniable mind-body connection and I believe the husband is just as much a part of that connection. Seth describes it as leaning into the dip, really taking on the challenge in a way that you're applying every available resource at your disposal to win, to see it through to success.
You've got to lean into the dip with breast cancer too. Being average, or just "showing up" for treatments for example, isn't leaning into the dip. No matter what the outcome, how much control you have over things, I believe you have to give it your all. I wish I could say that I've applied my own philosophy all along the way with our breast cancer battle. Breast cancer can be seen as either the proverbial millstone or as a great challenge, one of the greatest challenges to beaten and overcome.
After reading Seth's book, I now have a new metaphor to battle breast cancer. Every day I've got to rededicate myself to leaning into the dip, no matter how good or bad I feel, whether I feel like it or not or if I wake up energized and ready to live life that day together with my wife to its fullest. That's how I want to approach each day. It's about rededicating myself to that challenge every day.
Seth's book isn't about breast cancer but I still think it's a good read to help internalize the commitment needed to battle through any great struggle. I think our dedication as husbands is a big part of our wive's breast cancer treatment.
