October’s Call to Courage: An NLP-Based Mindset for Fighting Cancer with Strength, Strategy, and Support – This Sunday morning is cool as the sun starts to clear the ridgeline; it’s gonna cook us by midday. My mind drifts as I look down at the old hammer in my hand. The wood is almost silky smooth, tempered, and oiled by my sweaty hands for nearly half a century. This was the hammer he bought me, the pride I felt as he said, “You’re ready to get some man work done now.” A simple statement that said I was ready, as he handed it to me. I was 10 and had to swing it two-handed for a while, yet I felt like a man.
October is Cancer Awareness Month. Yet this isn’t a once-a-year spotlight for many of you, including my ex-military and first responder clients and their family members. It’s your daily reality. Whether you’re currently battling cancer or standing beside someone you love through their fight, you know this isn’t a silent struggle. It’s loud and raw, and it demands everything you’ve got.
Cancer touches all of us. As a mindset coach working with warriors like you—men and women forged in the fire of trauma, chaos, and service—you taught me one unwavering truth: your mind is your greatest weapon.
When you’re facing a battle as personal and consuming as cancer, mindset isn’t optional—it’s essential. And Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) tools can offer a lifeline of control in a world that suddenly feels unpredictable. Let’s take that power back, together.
You Can’t Fight a War with Half a Plan.
Cancer doesn’t attack from one direction. It hits emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. That’s why your approach must be multidimensional. It must be a cohesive plan that includes land, sea, air, space, intel, R&D, logistics, and all of it. As someone trained for adversity, you know the value of strategy. This is no different.
“Divide and conquer” isn’t just battlefield lingo—it’s a wellness strategy.
Build a support team that functions like a military unit or firehouse crew. Each person brings a strength: nutritionist, oncologist, therapist, NLP coach, spiritual advisor, and holistic healer. You are the commander-in-chief of your health. You must designate someone to coordinate the mission and trust your team to perform their roles. Western medicine can work miracles but must operate within a system—protocols, timelines, and insurance policies. You need more than one path forward. That’s where mindset, NLP, and lifestyle strategies come in. You fight from every angle, on every front, not just with medication but with intention.
NLP and the Warrior’s Mind: Reclaiming the Present Moment
Cancer tries to pull you into the “what ifs.” NLP brings you back to “right now.” Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness feed on imagined futures. NLP techniques help interrupt negative thought patterns and anchor your focus on the present—the only place change happens.
Try this:
- Visual Anchoring: Create a mental image of your strongest self—calm, composed, and in control. Revisit this vision whenever fear creeps in.
- Reframing: Instead of “I don’t know how we’ll get through this,” reframe it to “My team and I are finding new ways to be strong every day.”
- Pattern Interruption: When panic builds, stand up, change your posture, breathe deeply, and speak out loud: “I’ve faced worse. I’m not alone. I’ve got this.”
Small shifts like this retrain your brain and rewire your responses. The brain doesn’t know the difference between memory and imagination—so give it the script of success. Envision the outcome you want, not the one you fear.
Fuel the Fight: We Eat Our Way to Health
No warrior goes into battle without supplies. Food isn’t just fuel—it’s medicine. In cancer recovery and prevention, what you eat is either part of the problem or the solution. If you have ever read Dr. Dee’s articles here, you know what I mean.
Start simple:
- Whole Foods is overprocessed.
- Anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, leafy greens, garlic, and berries
- Cut back or eliminate added sugars—they feed inflammation and cancer cells.
- Drink water like it’s part of your job—because it is.
- DIET isn’t about deprivation; it’s Directly Injecting Effective Tools. You have the power to arm your body with the tools to fight. Your cells are listening. Feed them strength.
- Stay Present, Stay Connected, Say What Needs to Be Said
The most powerful lessons often come in times of crisis. Cancer has a way of stripping life to its essentials: love, presence, and connection. If there’s one gift you can give yourself or your loved one, it’s this: leave nothing unsaid. Take the time—TODAY, not someday—and:
- Say the words you’ve been holding back.
- Apologize if needed.
- Forgive when you’re ready.
- Speak love out loud.
No matter how strong the treatment, how tight the team is, or how advanced the science, the human heart still leads the way. This October, as the world shines a spotlight on cancer awareness, shine a spotlight on your response. We’re not talking about surrender. No, this is about strategic, full-spectrum resistance with your mindset leading the charge.
- You are not powerless.
- You are not alone.
- And this is not the end of the story.
- Take the time. Say what you want to say. Leave nothing unsaid.
A screech brings me out of my drifting. I turn to my left to see a hawk perched 10 feet from me on the fence post, staring at me. His head turns to the side as if asking me, “Are you OK?” Yeah, I’m good, Pop. It leans forward, head now locked on me, those raptor eyes piercing into me, just like Pop used to do. I turn to face him. “I AM doing really well, sir. My sister and I got everything laid out, and the team is ready for Momma’s surgery. We got everything on track financially for the family, and we all had fun celebrating Nater’s graduation last night. On my watch now, all good to go, sir.”
The hawk stood up straight, his gaze locked on me for a long moment. He seemed to give a nod of approval and instantly took off over me. Pop rode on a year ago this month. I used everything I’ve told you here as we battled cancer as a family, and it’s still working for me. That’s how I know this will work for you. In our family’s mindset, we call ourselves. Gates tough. I am more blessed, filled with great memories and laughter, and eased by the knowledge that I told him everything.
Because healing isn’t a straight line, it’s a mission. We complete it—together.
“I can tell you, from experience, that when you battle cancer, wherever it is in your life. Mindset, yours, your family’s, your team’s, your community’s, it matters more than you can imagine. Don’t wait until you’re in the fight. You rise to the level of your training, so get to it, now.” – Scott Gates
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