Every cancer journey is marked by uncertainty, but some days carry an unexpected gift—a best day not defined by the absence of pain, but by the quiet courage to see good in the midst of it. If you’re living with cancer, recovering from treatment, or supporting a loved one, this idea may feel impossible. Yet, the choice to see the good is one of the most profound acts of strength anyone can make.
The Power of Perspective: Why Seeing Good Matters
It’s easy to believe that best days only appear when all is well. In truth, many people find their brightest moments hidden within the hardest times. To choose to see the good doesn’t require ignoring the reality of cancer. Instead, it means pairing pain with a fresh sense of hope. This perspective can unlock strength that lies quietly within.
A Surgeon’s View: Witnessing Every Side of Cancer
As a surgeon, I have spent decades walking beside patients through fear, loss, and unexpected victories. My vantage point has shown me both heartbreak and extraordinary courage. Each life touched by cancer tells its own story, but a common thread stands out: those who seek good, even a small bit, often find a deep well of resilience.
The Reality of Cancer: Brutal and Life-Changing
Let’s not pretend cancer isn’t brutal. The disease can steal your energy, diminish who you think you are, and change your body in ways you never imagined. These aren’t just physical struggles, they’re emotional ones too—moments when hope feels like a memory and fear looms large.
Patients’ Struggles: When Worlds Feel Like They’re Crumbling
The journey isn’t just about treatments and appointments. Many find their world seems to fall apart, sometimes all at once. Common feelings include:
- Overwhelming fear of the unknown
- Profound fatigue, both physical and emotional
- Grief for lost abilities or the life “before cancer”
- Anger at the unfairness of illness
These are real and common—no one expects you to deny their weight.
Finding Moments of Good: Not Every Day, But On Your Best Days
Good during cancer is often fragile and fleeting. It isn’t about being happy all the time. It’s about being intentionally aware, catching the fleeting colors others miss. Some patients seem to develop a new “vision,” one that spots beauty in the smallest places—a kindness, a smile, a shared laugh. These glimpses matter. They don’t erase pain, but they offer a lifeline.
How Good Looks Different When Fighting Cancer
When your world shrinks to hospital rooms and test results, “good” changes form. It might be:
- A nurse who remembers exactly how you like your coffee
- The sound of your child’s laughter echoing down a hallway
- A stranger holding the elevator door a little longer so you don’t have to rush
Here, good isn’t grand. It’s made of tiny acts and small blessings.
Sarah’s Story: A Small Joy During Chemo
Sarah was one of my patients who shared, “My best day wasn’t when chemo ended. It was the day I realized I could still taste chocolate ice cream.” That moment made her feel alive again. “It made me cry, Doc. Not because everything was fixed, but because something was still there to love.” Sarah’s story reminds us that good doesn’t always arrive as we expect it.
You Can Hate the Disease and Still Notice Good
Let’s be clear: you don’t have to feel grateful for cancer. You can despise the disease and everything it brings; that doesn’t erase your pain or invalidate your anger. But tucked inside the hardship are unexpected gifts—moments, lessons, and connections you never sought but can cherish nonetheless.
The Science: How Our Brain Can Rewire Through Choice
Research reveals our brains can form new neural pathways through conscious choice. When you repeatedly notice and seek good moments, you are quite literally training your mind toward hope. This isn’t about being falsely “positive,” but rather, using science to reclaim a measure of control.
Finding Hope: Training Your Mind Beyond Survival
Cancer invites you to do more than just survive. When you look for small moments of good, you’re training your mind to recognize hope. Not every thought needs to be cheerful, but every time you find one spot of brightness, you build courage and power over your own perspective.
The Strength Found in Helping Others
It’s striking how often those who offer support to others deepen their own healing. I’ve watched patients draw strength by sitting with someone else through a dark night or sharing a joke in the middle of chemotherapy. That act of reaching out builds courage and rekindles purpose.
For more thoughts on how supporting others brings healing, see The healing power of looking outward in recovery.
How to Start: Seeking Three Things on Your Hardest Days
There’s no need for grand gestures or dramatic changes. Begin simply:
- Find one small comfort each day.
- Notice who shows up for you.
- Acknowledge your own strength.
These steps are your starting line, even on the days when hope seems far away.
Tip 1: Find One Small Comfort Daily
A small comfort can be anything—a favorite sweatshirt, five minutes of sun on your face, even the soft hum of a cherished song. Small comforts rebuild strength when your resources feel stretched thin. Sometimes a friend’s text or a pet’s warmth can change the color of an entire afternoon.
Tip 2: Notice Who Shows Up for You
Cancer has a unique way of revealing true friendship and dedicated support. Notice who is there for you, no matter what. Let that good overwhelm you. Sometimes it’s the friend who sends a card every week, or the neighbor who offers to carry in your groceries. Accepting help is an act of strength, not weakness.
Tip 3: Acknowledge Your Strength
Recognize that getting through today required courage and grit. Every small step you take proves an inner strength that isn’t always visible. Try reminding yourself:
“Today, I did something hard. I am stronger than I thought.”
Those words may sound simple, but they are true.
For stories of others who have honored their own strength and built resilience, visit Cancer Fighters Journal: documenting resilience and hope.
The Quote Revisited: Best Days Come from Choosing Good
Remember: the most precious days aren’t measured by what goes right, but by your willingness to notice what is still good. Your best days are not about chasing perfection. They’re about seeing with new eyes.
It’s Okay Not to Choose Good Every Day
There will be days when it feels impossible to find any good at all. That’s okay. Survival is enough when the load feels heavy. Both are enough.
Seeing Life Differently After Cancer
Many who’ve been through cancer describe a shift in how they experience the world:
- Colors seem brighter, even after the darkest nights.
- Relationships gain more depth and honesty.
- Simple moments—like sitting with a loved one—linger longer.
This new way of seeing can stay with you, helping you find meaning in the little things.
For more inspiration on what comes after the hospital, read Embracing life after cancer: rediscovery and renewed goals.
The Role of Small Moments in Big Battles
When fighting cancer, every small moment of comfort or care gains significance. These bits of good don’t erase difficulty but prove that even in great battles, the quietest moments can be the most powerful.
Encouragement for Fighters: You’re Stronger Than You Think
Strength and courage are woven into each day you keep going. There is power in every step further into treatment, every tough conversation, every time you say “yes” to another day.
Dual Reality: Good Exists Alongside Struggle
Struggle and good can live side by side. You don’t have to be only one thing—grateful or angry, hopeful or tired. Embrace the complexity. Let it be real. This is how true courage takes shape.
The Power of Sharing Your Good Moments
When you share your own bits of good, you help others see their own light. A story, a smile, a message—these small offerings can make the path gentler for someone traveling behind you.
Inviting Reflection: What Good Did You See Today?
What good did you notice today? Sometimes the hope you see gives someone else a reason to hope, too.
Reminder: You Are Not Alone on This Path
No matter where you are in your journey, remember, you are not alone. Countless others walk this path beside you, each carrying their own courage, strength, and hope. When you choose to see the good, even for a moment, you connect yourself to a larger circle of resilience and compassion.
