Living Life with Cancer | Podcast on RSS.com

Living Life with Cancer

Living Life with Cancer

by Heather Meyer

Self-Improvement Mental Health

Soul Tired: The Cancer Burnout No One Talks About

In this episode, we explore cancer burnout—what I often call being “soul tired”—and the very real, often unspoken experience of long-term emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that comes with living with cancer. This conversation is for anyone who is navigating life with cancer and finding themselves worn down in ways they didn’t expect, and is meant to offer perspective, steadiness, and language for what you’re experiencing—rather than answers or fixes. In this episode, we touch on: – Why burnout in cancer life is not a personal failure, but an inevitable accumulation of stress over time – What “cancer burnout” actually is, and why not naming it can make you feel like something is wrong with you – A question to sit with: can you allow yourself to be where you are, without judgment, and take one next step from there? If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection—you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

You Don’t Have a Decision Problem. You Have a Self-Trust Problem

In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of re-deciding the same thing over and over again—and why it’s not indecision, but a lack of self-trust that keeps you stuck in mental loops. This conversation is for anyone who is high-functioning, capable, and used to making big decisions—but finds themselves exhausted by overthinking, second-guessing, and not following through. It’s meant to offer perspective and steadiness, rather than answers or quick fixes. In this episode, we touch on: – Why you’re not actually “processing”… you’re rehearsing doubt – How to recognize the difference between fear-based decisions and grounded, self-trusting ones – A simple question to interrupt the spiral and help you take your next step If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection—you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

You're Not Stuck - Your Brain Is Just Too Loud

In this episode, we explore why the small things you can’t seem to get done take up so much mental space — and what’s actually keeping you stuck in the loop of thinking about them without moving forward. This conversation is for anyone who feels capable but overwhelmed, especially women living with cancer or navigating a life that no longer fits the old rules, and is meant to offer clarity, perspective, and a sense of steadiness rather than answers or fixes. In this episode, we touch on: – Why “simple” things like cleaning, eating, or movement become heavy and draining – What’s actually happening in your brain when you’re stuck in mental loops – A different way to approach one thing at a time so it becomes lighter, clearer, and doable If you’d like to have a Mindset Reset click this link: https://heatherscoaching.as.me/mindsetreset or email me 3 times at heather@heatherscoaching.com I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection — you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

What If You Only Needed 5 Minutes? The Battle of the Shoulds

In this episode, we explore the tension between what you feel like you should be doing and what you actually want to do — especially when time and energy feel limited. This conversation is for anyone who feels pulled in multiple directions at once, stuck between responsibilities and connection, and is meant to offer perspective and a gentle reframe rather than answers or fixes. In this episode, we touch on: – The “battle of the shoulds” and why your brain turns everything into either/or – How black-and-white thinking keeps you stuck, even when you care deeply about both things – A simple 5-minute reframe that allows you to give time instead of feeling like you’re taking it away If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection — you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

Proactive Self Care: a game changing practice that's EASY!

In this episode, we explore what proactive self-care really means — especially for women navigating fatigue, uncertainty, and demanding seasons of life. This conversation is for anyone who feels like they’re constantly pushing through exhaustion or caring for everyone else first, and is meant to offer perspective and steadiness rather than answers or fixes. In this episode, we touch on: Reframing self-care from something you earn at the end of the day to something that supports you throughout it Simple ways to care for yourself proactively — like energy “buckets,” SOS lists, and permission to do less A question to sit with: what could you gently take off your plate right now? If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection — you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

When You Love Your Job… But Your Body Has Changed

In this episode, we’re talking about the complicated, emotional, identity-shifting question of whether or not to return to work after a cancer diagnosis. This isn’t just about logistics or finances. It’s about purpose. It’s about identity. It’s about who you are outside of your roles — and who you’re allowed to become now. If you love your job but aren’t sure your body can do it the way it used to… this conversation is for you. We explore: – Why this decision is about more than just “yes or no” – The grief of losing (or changing) a professional identity – Financial fear and how to shift into possibility instead of scarcity – The difference between capacity issues and boundary issues – Worst-case thinking vs. what’s actually medically true – What “minimum viable work” could look like – Why asking for what you want might surprise you I also share personal decisions I’ve made about money, work, and presence — and how I think about trade-offs today. This is a conversation I have with nearly every one of my 1:1 clients at some point — whether it’s about returning to work, stepping away, or redefining what work looks like entirely. You do not have to navigate this alone. And I’ll leave you with the same question I ask in coaching: If you knew nothing was wrong and you knew exactly what you would do… what is the answer? Not the responsible answer. Not the impressive answer. The honest one. If you’re sitting with this decision and want support walking through it thoughtfully — 1:1 coaching is where we untangle the fear from the facts and help you move forward with clarity. You can learn more at heatherscoaching.com/discovery-call.com Thanks for being here. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

Thought Fatigue & the 90 Day Challenge between Scans

In this episode we are talking fatigue. The real kind. The kind that makes you think, “There is no way I can commit to something for 90 days.” This conversation is for anyone who wants to do the 90 Day Challenge between scans but keeps hearing the thought, “I’m too tired,” and is meant to give you a different way to look at your energy — not to push you, fix you, or tell you to try harder. In this episode, we touch on: The gap between knowing what you “should” do and actually doing it The difference between body fatigue and brain fatigue (and why that matters) Why some of your exhaustion might be coming from thought loops, not your body The idea of minimum viable energy: doing the smallest thing you can do that still counts The question: Are you too tired… or are you tired of fighting yourself? If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore this stuff in real life, with real humans — you’re always welcome when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

Vanilla Goals & Identity Shifts: the 90 day between scans challenge

In this episode, we explore what it really means to set a goal — especially in a life that moves in 90-day scan cycles. This conversation is for anyone who feels stuck between scans, unsure how to use the time in front of them, and is meant to offer perspective and ignition rather than answers or fixes. In this episode, we touch on: – Why “vanilla goals” aren’t actually the point – How your brain works overtime to keep you safe (and stuck) – Why failure isn’t proof you can’t — it’s part of becoming – The question: Who are you becoming in these 90 days? If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection — you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

The Exhaustion of Fighting Your Own Mind

In this episode, we explore why our minds fixate on cancer (and then NOT wanting to think about it) and where the real exhaustion comes from. Pro tip: it is not from the thoughts themselves, but from fighting them. This conversation is for anyone living with cancer who feels stuck in the loop of thinking about it, judging themselves for it, and wishing they could just “move on.” It’s here to offer you some orientation, steadiness and relief — not answers, tools, or fixes. In this episode, we touch on: Why thinking about cancer is a normal response to prolonged uncertainty The difference between roles we inhabit and who we actually are How judging yourself for your thoughts creates more suffering than the thoughts themselves A simple way to build capacity and trust with your own mind over time If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection — you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. You can shoot me an email heather@heatherscoaching.com Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

Outsourcing Our Humanity

In this episode, we explore the idea of outsourcing our humanity — and what happens when we hand our inner authority over to rules, tools, and ideals about how we’re “supposed” to feel or live. This conversation is for anyone who feels pressure to do life “right,” manage their emotions perfectly, or achieve some imagined standard of constant happiness. It is meant to offer reflection, steadiness, and perspective rather than answers or fixes. In this episode, we touch on: How emotions like stress, anger, and sadness became treated as problems instead of information The subtle shift from using tools as support to treating them like rules A question to sit with: What changes when I allow myself to be human, instead of trying to optimize myself? If you’d like to stay connected beyond the podcast, I share reflections, episode updates, and invitations through my email list at heatherscoaching.com. I also host coffee chats and community Happy Hours for women who want to explore these conversations in connection — you’re always welcome to join when it feels right. Thanks for being here and spending this time with me. Music: “Inspiration” by Rocknstock, provided by TuneTank

1 of 4