My Need for A Disciplined Mind as a Cancer Survivor

Brian Sluga is now a testicular cancer survivor after receiving the diagnosis when he was 20 years old. Catch up on Brian's blogs here!

Discipline, I have discovered, is one of the most elusive attributes required for success. I never had discipline in high school, college or immediately after my testicular cancer surgery. I only discovered discipline in the last 10 years or so. In fact, discipline is what you need to achieve the results most people desire. It is an important quality to transform your life and to live it on your own terms.

Although I did not undergo chemotherapy or radiation, I often faced pain and emotional distress. My family felt neglected at times as I struggled to understand what and why cancer happened to me. I have learned many lessons over the years. Lately, I have been thinking about achieving mental health. In my 20s I knew zilch about mental health.

Mental health used to be only discussed with certain people, if at all. One uses discipline to get out of bed even when life wants to force you in a different direction. Early in my cancer journey, I chose to do the best for the day even if it felt exhausting. My experiences after cancer only scratched the surface of ways in which my body felt painful and drained. A whirlpool of emotions that seemed too much at a tender, barely drinking age.

During the most difficult times, like waiting for test results, the pain of uncertainty often made it hard to concentrate. Sometimes all I could manage was to jot down random thoughts of obscure things. I wanted to someday follow through with them but never did.

Deep down, there was something wrong. But what is it? I set some goals for myself but did not know how to achieve them. Friends and family showed me discipline. My high school buddy Joe said something I will never forget.

“Competition is what makes you who you are,” he told me.“It is that thing that you have that I only wish I could achieve.”

Joe who was talking about discipline. “You have it now, go use it the best way you know.”

That short conversation had a profound effect on my life.

Many people live their lives accepting whatever comes. I needed to accomplish a great pursuit. I needed to get back to school and complete that degree. I must admit, after more than 10 years of tests and being poked and prodded every month, I lost hope of graduating college.

One night at a hometown bar, I ran into our high school baseball coach. Coach Fred said, “Well, Brian, you have an associate degree that is like having two butt holes.” I thought to myself, “Well, I cannot settle for that.”

Many sacrifices must be made. I needed to be awake during this time. The world was not asleep. I needed to get down to business study, crack the books and be what I always thought I could be.

Discipline will make one hungrier than an Olympic champion. Maybe my own thoughts about cancer were abstract in a kind of way. Like laughing in a crowded mall while watching the world go by so you do not feel alone.

If I can suggest anything to help, it’s that tomorrow cannot harm you. It is today that you spend energy and should concentrate. Today is here, in front of you, like a bad habit.

Sometimes it takes but one plan to fail for another to succeed. I learned to expand my reality and be disciplined. Discipline is the only habit that will not disappoint.

Have you ever felt like you cannot say no to anyone? Maybe you are constantly doing things so you do not let others down. But it is a fallacy that people think less of you. Discipline yourself to say “No” to something that will stress you out this month.

Never regret the time you spend caring for yourself. You will regret most of the times that you did not. Problems and challenges will come for sure. After my cancer diagnosis, I thought everything was a setback. Your future has resources that will surprise you. A few disciplined habits to use: Practice balanced time and schedule of work, self-care and fun. Get enough sleep and eat daily nutritious food. Discipline will help establish boundaries that contribute to your better overall well-being.

Another action requiring discipline is to let silence in your life enable reflection. It is hard not to reach for the phone, computer or another distraction, but allow silence each day to calm your thoughts. Learn from silence and it will help you achieve a disciplined existence. My physical struggles I have realized do not exist anymore. However, it turns out there is no escape from thinking about my cancer diagnosis, as I have tried. I am grateful to be where I am with help from others and a bit of discipline of my own.

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