I think we’ve all heard the phrase, “seeing is believing” enough to consider it cliché; but there’s a reason that phrase has been around for nearly four centuries (if not longer). In its original sense, I think the message was, “I won’t believe it until I see it,” and certainly most of us have said or thought that a time or two. But alas, there is another application of that classic idiom.
Seeing someone else achieve what was once considered to be extremely difficult (if not impossible) can lead one to believe that if he or she did it, so can I. It happens all the time. It happened centuries ago when those brave souls we know as explorers courageously braved the perils of unknown seas and distant lands, and lived to tell about it. Seeing one sailor cross the ocean and back led others to believe they could do it too. Seeing was believing!
With that in mind, I believe that is the approach we should consider taking in the age-old “war on c*ncer,” a war that continues to claim new casualties every day, and at an increasingly alarming rate. As sad as it is, it seems that people developing c*ncer is becoming the new norm. It seems we hear about celebrity victims in the news, or people closer to home on a regular basis: some fighting, some no longer with us. The effect of such stories can be compared to what I call, “the bully syndrome” (hoping that big bad bully, whom everyone is afraid of, doesn’t pick on me next).
So, what does the title of this article have to do with all that? How does “seeing is believing” apply here? The answer is simple…
On the negative side, seeing so many people develop and suffer with or worse, succumb to that dreadful condition typically scares the living daylight out of you. Seeing how it affects a person can make you believe you’re in for the same scary ride should you one day develop it. But what if you could touch or speak with someone who overcame it? What if you heard or read the details of how he or she came out on top. What if we heard and read more stories about people who courageously fought back and won? What effect might that have in the grand scheme?
Well, I’ve got great news. There are those among us who have overcome the condition and lived to tell about it. People who’ve fought against the condition with every ounce of will and determination they could muster. People who’ve built their teams of health practitioners, prayer partners and well-wishers, and managed every aspect of their condition: from recognizing that “something’s wrong,” receiving a diagnosis, deciding how THEY wanted to receive treatment, and holding steady through to victory. Yes, these are stories about people who’ve allowed their faith in The Divine and their belief in themselves to overcome the gravity of their respective situations; but those are the stories we don’t hear enough of… until now…
In “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story,” author Matt D. Talford takes you on a journey from early childhood fears about the condition (and if you don’t think your young children know about c*ncer and fear getting it, you may wanna think again), through his own diagnosis and battle, and how he courageously and meticulously “managed the clock,” and “the game plan” from start to finish to achieve victory.
What’s more? Talford, who considers himself a lifetime problem solver (having worked in that capacity in every professional job he’s ever held), shows you throughout the book, how he took the problem-solving approach to every obstacle he’s ever faced, be it work, sporting contests or his health. “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” is more than a story about an ordinary guy overcoming extraordinary health circumstances; it’s a chorus… a refrain that sings… “Don’t complain about it, get up and do something about it!”
So if you’re wondering, “Matt, why did you write this article? Why did you write the book?” I’ll tell you… I truly do believe that seeing is believing! Furthermore, I know that each of us possesses the power to choose what we want to see; how we want to look at the picture that is in front of us. If you’re not doing so already, start looking for and seeing the positive side of things. Be the author of your story. Write your ending and move toward it.
I really hope you’ll read, “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” and say to yourself, “if he could overcome that situation, I can certainly overcome mine” (whatever that situation might be). Stop sitting idly by, waiting for help to magically appear. Become the solution! If you’re not getting the results you want, push harder; keep looking. Leave no stone unturned. I did it and I believe that you can do it too, in fact, I KNOW YOU CAN! J
God Bless!
-MT
Purchase Your Copy of “From Fear to Faith: A Survivor’s Story” Today!
