Redefining Abundance: What It Really Means When You’re Living with Cancer

 by Kathryn White

When life takes an unexpected turn, like a cancer diagnosis, our definition of abundance often shifts dramatically. What once may have looked like a full bank account, a packed social calendar, or a house filled with things now transforms into something far more intimate and enduring.

Abundance becomes the breath you didn’t know you were holding, finally released and realized.
It’s the quiet of morning light warming your face. The steady presence of someone who sits beside you without needing to fix anything. The taste of a favorite food on a day your appetite returns.

Letting Go of the Old Definition

In our culture, abundance is frequently tied to accumulation—more success, more things, more experiences. But when you’re living with cancer, "more" can start to feel like too much. The noise of busy schedules and the pressure of productivity often fall away, leaving space for something deeper.

You begin to understand that abundance isn’t in the excess. It’s in the essence. And that essence shows up in small but powerful ways:

• A moment of relief from pain

• A deep, honest conversation

• A laugh that bubbles up unexpectedly

• A quiet day that allows for rest

These are the riches that matter most when you're navigating a health crisis.

Reclaiming Moments of Peace

Peace becomes a form of wealth. In the face of uncertainty, a calm moment can feel like gold. Whether it’s through meditation, prayer, time in nature, or simply turning off the noise of the world for a little while, moments of inner stillness become sacred.

Peace also shows up when we accept what we cannot control and make choices about what we can. Choosing kindness toward ourselves. Choosing to say no without guilt. Choosing rest without apology.

Connection as Currency

Relationships deepen when superficial layers fall away. Cancer can bring a new clarity about who and what matters. Some friendships may fade, while others grow roots. You may even form unexpected connections—with other patients, with caregivers, or with parts of yourself you hadn’t known before.

The currency of connection is presence. It's found in the shared silence between you and someone who understands. In the text message that says, “I’m thinking of you.” In the courage it takes to be vulnerable and say, “I need help.”

Gratitude as Grounding

Abundance is also gratitude—not forced positivity, but authentic thankfulness for what is. Gratitude becomes an anchor in the storm. It reminds us that even on the hardest days, something good can coexist with the struggle.

A warm blanket. A beautiful sunset. A nurse’s gentle touch. These may seem small, but they carry the weight of a new understanding: that life, even now, offers gifts.

A New Kind of Wealth

Redefining abundance doesn’t mean denying the pain or difficulty of cancer—it means expanding our awareness to also see the beauty and meaning that can arise alongside it. It’s a shift from “having more” to “being more present.” From the external to the internal. From quantity to quality.

And in this redefinition, we find that abundance was never about things—it was always about what truly nourishes the soul.

What does abundance look like for you right now?
I’d love to hear your reflections—share in the comments or connect with me directly.

There is a lot to navigate when you are living with cancer. When you have guidance and tools in your life you start to reclaim your life and choose to learn how to live with cancer. Cancer does not get to control your life, you do. 

To learn more about reclaiming your life and choosing to learn how to live with cancer join me in my free 7 Day Get Thriving Mini-Course. Sign up for my newsletters and get immediate access to the course. Explore this mini-course that shows you some of the key fundamentals to becoming a cancer thriver.

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.