Your surroundings matter more than you think, especially when you’re healing.
During or after a cancer diagnosis, so much of life can feel outside your control. Your body is changing, your schedule revolves around appointments, and emotionally, you might feel all over the place. One thing you can influence? The environment around you. And that environment can either support your healing or work against it.
Here’s how to create a space that calms your nervous system, lifts your spirits, and reminds you that you matter.
1. Start with Simplicity: Clear the Clutter
A cluttered space can often reflect (or create) a cluttered mind. Healing loves simplicity. Try clearing one small area at a time: a bedside table, a kitchen corner, a bathroom shelf. Create a space where your eyes and mind can rest.
2. Invite in Comfort
Healing doesn’t mean you need luxury. It means softness. A warm throw blanket, your favorite candle, or a supportive chair by a sunny window can create a cocoon of comfort. This is your sanctuary.
3. Use Your Senses Intentionally
Healing is a full-body experience. Here’s how you can gently awaken your senses:
- Sight: Soft lighting, calming colours, and natural elements like plants or flowers.
- Smell: Aromatherapy with lavender, frankincense, or citrus oils.
- Sound: Soft music, nature sounds, or silence, whatever brings peace.
- Touch: Soft pillows, fuzzy socks, and soothing textures.
- Taste: A warm cup of tea, a favorite fruit, or a healing soup within reach.
4. Create a Healing Ritual Corner
Designate a spot where you can breathe, meditate, journal, or just be. Even a small nook with a cushion and candle can signal to your brain: This is a safe space.
5. Let Nature In
Open a window. Place a small plant on your table. Sit in the sunlight. Nature has a healing intelligence and your body recognizes it.
6. Make It Personal
Surround yourself with photos, quotes, artwork, or objects that remind you of your strength, your values, and your joy. Healing is deeply personal let your space reflect your spirit.
Your Home Is Part of Your Healing Team
Whether you live in a house, apartment, or another space, your environment has the power to either soothe or stress your system. Choose to make your space a soft place to land, a space that reminds you:
🌿 I am worthy of comfort.
🌿 I deserve to feel supported.
🌿 Healing is happening here.
Let your space be a mirror of your healing.
Want support in building a life that feels aligned and healing after cancer? My THRIVE coaching and resources are here to guide you. Let’s walk this path together.
If you would like to know more about the concept of living with cancer, I have written a book all about my personal experience with moving from survivor to thriver. In my book I offer anecdotes and strategies that will encourage you to learn how to thrive with cancer. You can get a copy of Living to Thrive: a holistic guide to living with cancer here.
You don’t have to navigate cancer alone. As a Certified Holistic Cancer Coach I support women who are looking for more than just surviving day to day – they want to learn how to thrive with cancer. The THRIVE Cancer Coaching Program is a space for you to learn and grow while getting one to one support from a ten year cancer thriver. Let’s talk about how coaching can help you create abundance in your life with cancer. Schedule a free 30 minute call today to learn more about coaching and how to get started.
Kathryn White is a Certified Holistic Cancer Coach who supports women to turn their cancer diagnosis into a thriving story one woman at a time.
