#411 How to Embrace Resistance and Move Through Life's Toughest Moments
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Release Date: 05/16/2025
Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
In this episode, Laura explores a question that often brings women more confusion than clarity: “What is my purpose?” Drawing from her own reflections and from coaching breast cancer survivors, she reframes the conversation around a far more supportive question: “Am I living on purpose?” You’ll hear how intentional living supports cognitive health, stress resilience, emotional wellbeing, and metabolic healing after breast cancer. Laura breaks down the psychology and neuroscience behind purposeful living, explains why so many of us resist it, and shares simple, doable ways to build...
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Why do we keep holding on to things that don’t serve us—relationships, habits, or clutter that drains our energy? In this episode, Laura Lummer explores how the brain’s desire for safety keeps us clinging to what’s familiar, even when it hurts us. You’ll hear about two fascinating studies on the psychology of familiarity and habit formation, and learn how awareness, curiosity, and small acts of release can help you create space for what’s truly meant for you. 💬 “Comfort feels safe, even when it’s not healthy. But awareness is what frees you.” Join Laura inside the Better...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
When you’ve lived through breast cancer, life often feels like a mix of opposites — gratitude and fear, healing and side effects, joy and grief. In this episode, Laura shares what it means to hold space for both the good and the hard, and how allowing energy to flow supports both emotional and physical healing. She explores the science of psycho-neuro-immunology, the lymphatic system, and fascia, and connects it to traditional healing wisdom about flow and stagnation. Learn how to create physiological safety, release stored emotions, and find balance in the space between the light and the...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
When we try to protect others from our pain, we often end up isolating ourselves. In this episode, Laura Lummer, The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach, shares her concept of the protective barrier — the invisible wall that forms when we hold our emotions in and pretend everything is “normal.” Through the lens of radical transparency and supported by research on emotional expression, Laura explains how honest communication reduces stress, strengthens immunity, and builds trust with our champions — the people who love and support us through it all. Listen and learn how vulnerability can be...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Back from Metabolic Health Day, I’m joined by client and Terrain Advocate-in-training, Katie Resor, to share the most use-today insights: energy and fatigue through a metabolic lens, nature and circadian rhythm, simple detox wins, EMF practices that fit real life, and the vendors/tests we loved. You’ll also hear reflections on community, hope, and why health is a terrain we tend—not a finish line. Show links include the conference recordings and resources we mention. Explore more support: Grab your copy of the Metabolic Health Day conference recordings here: Better Than...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Being cancer-free doesn’t always mean we’ve healed. After 14 years of managing cancer, I’ve learned that healing is about more than scans and lab results—it’s about reclaiming joy, peace, and meaning in the present moment. In this episode, I share stories of women who stopped waiting for permission to live and how research shows that hope, gratitude, and laughter can support real healing—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Explore more support: Better Than Before Breast Cancer Life Coaching Membership: Creating a Life You Love in 168 Hours a Week: ...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
October is a complicated month for so many of us touched by breast cancer. Pink ribbons are everywhere—sometimes they feel celebratory, other times they stir up fear, grief, or difficult memories. Both experiences are real, and both deserve to be honored. In this episode, I invite you to see October through a different lens. Instead of focusing only on awareness, what if we made it about aliveness? I talk about how prevention deserves as much energy as detection, why metastatic breast cancer looks very different today than it did 10–15 years ago, and how daily acts of self-love—like...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Healing doesn’t begin with shame—it begins with honesty. In this episode, I share why telling yourself the truth is the most powerful first step in creating health and joy after breast cancer. You’ll hear: Why judgment keeps us stuck in old patterns How curiosity creates opportunities for growth A simple framework to reflect on your strengths and challenges My personal story of facing the truth and finding healing When you pair honesty with compassion, you’ll see just how much power you have to create a body you love and a life you trust. Explore more support: ...
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Biological dentistry goes far beyond cavities and cleanings—it’s about understanding how your mouth connects to your entire body. In this episode, Dr. Toni Engram explains how the oral microbiome impacts inflammation, hormones, digestion, and even healing from chronic illness. We cover: Why dental materials (like mercury fillings and fluoride) matter for long-term health. How to safely approach dental care during cancer treatment. Everyday practices—like nutrient-dense food, flossing, and tongue scraping—that protect oral and systemic health. Listen now and discover how...
info_outlineBetter Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
Why does it feel so hard to hear yourself when life gets busy—especially during breast cancer recovery? In this episode: The science of stress, sleep, and comfort eating Why white space is not a luxury but a recovery tool Four research-backed ways to restore energy and balance Practical if-then scripts to protect your health this season Explore more support: Better Than Before Breast Cancer Life Coaching Membership: Creating a Life You Love in 168 Hours a Week: Let’s Connect! If this episode helped you breathe a little easier, please share it...
info_outlineIn this episode of Better Than Before Breast Cancer, we’re talking about the concept of resistance — a natural, human response to discomfort, fear, and change.
Resistance can show up in many forms, whether you're facing a difficult decision, trying to adopt new habits, or navigating life after cancer treatment. But here's the good news: resistance isn’t something to fight. It's a powerful signal that you're on the verge of growth.
Let’s talk about:
-Why does resistance come up
-How can it affect your ability to move forward
-How to work with resistance instead of against it
I’ll give you practical steps to help you embrace resistance as a natural part of the healing journey and turn it into an opportunity for personal growth.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Understanding Resistance: Why resistance is a natural and protective mechanism our minds use to avoid discomfort and uncertainty.
- The Science Behind Resistance: Discover how theories like cognitive dissonance and the Fogg Behavior Model explain why we resist change and how to break free from it.
- How Resistance Shows Up: Explore the subtle ways we resist without even realizing it, like procrastination, perfectionism, and busyness.
- Practical Steps to Overcome Resistance: Learn actionable strategies to embrace resistance, including acknowledging it, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and using self-compassion.
- Self-Determination Theory: Find out how to tap into your autonomy and regain control to make healthier decisions that align with your goals and values.
- Why Resistance is Part of the Healing Journey: Learn how to reframe resistance as a sign of growth, especially after cancer treatment or any major life change.
Key Takeaways:
- Resistance isn’t your enemy. It’s a natural response to fear and discomfort that can guide you to a better, more resilient version of yourself.
- Embrace small, manageable steps to break through resistance and make progress, even when it feels challenging.
- Recognizing subtle forms of resistance, like busyness and perfectionism, can help you break free from inaction.
- Self-compassion and shifting your mindset are powerful tools to move through resistance with grace.
Resources Mentioned in This Episode:
- Cognitive Dissonance Theory by Leon Festinger: Psychology Today article
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- Self-Determination Theory by Deci and Ryan: Learn More
- The Fogg Behavior Model
Call to Action:
If you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed by resistance, remember that you’re not alone. Embrace it as a natural part of your healing journey. Share this episode with someone who may need to hear these messages today. And if you’re ready to take the next step in your healing, consider joining the Better Than Before Breast Cancer֭™ Life Coaching Membership for more support and actionable advice. You’ve got this!
Connect with Laura Lummer:
💌 Join my email list for weekly wellness tips & podcast updates → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
👩💻 Follow me on Instagram for daily inspiration → @thebreastcancerrecoverycoach
👩💻 Follow me on Facebook → The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
🎙 Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts → Better Than Before Breast Cancer with The Breast Cancer Recovery Coach
🎥 Watch on YouTube → @BetterThanBeforeBreastCancer
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