Finding Meaning: From "Why?" to "What Now?"

Some people just don’t seem like they should get cancer. Like me. Or you. Or him. And yet, it happens.

One of the first questions that arises is: "Why?"

I’ve heard this question from friends who couldn’t understand how I, of all people, was diagnosed.

No genetics. No family history. I’m a yogi. Aware. A vegetarian for 25 years. I eat healthily and organically. I try to manage stress—as much as possible. But no matter the circumstances, almost no one believes that they, specifically, will be the one to get cancer.

So the question "Why?" lingers, often accompanying the diagnosis. And that’s what I want to talk about.

There’s no single reason. But there’s one truth we can’t escape—we are human. And human beings are quite fertile ground for cancer. Statistics show that one in three people will encounter cancer at some point in life. So, with humility, we must acknowledge: we are human, and sooner or later, we might become part of that statistic.

Cancer has many causes—some external, some internal (both physical and emotional). There are always reasons. Life isn’t perfect, so reasons abound. But they rarely bring comfort.

My biggest struggle with "Why?" is that it often leads to guilt and blame—blame toward others, toward ourselves, or toward circumstances. And that burden can be overwhelming. If I blame my lifestyle, then I, or my parents, or my partner, or anyone connected to my choices, is suddenly on trial. And I don’t believe that guilt contributes to healing.

So, what can we do? Instead of looking back and asking, "Why?", we can shift to the present and ask, "What now?"

"What in my life can become healthier?" "Where can I align more deeply with what nourishes me?"

Let’s take that energy and channel it into precise, meaningful action—into our way of life, our thought patterns, our relationships, and our purpose.

Try to feel how your body responds to the question "Why?"—for me, it creates a tightness in my stomach, a feeling of guilt. But when I ask, "What now?", my body expands, fills with hope.

Many cancer survivors share that they can trace their illness to a painful event in their past. Instead of blaming the event, let’s examine our response to it. Could we develop a healthier way of reacting? While we cannot control external events, we can control how we engage with them. Changing our patterns is not always easy, but it’s possible—with awareness and practice.

Or, let’s say I recognize that one of the unhealthiest aspects of my life is a lack of attention to my own needs. The moment I shift my energy from blame to healing, from dwelling on the past to shaping the future, I create freedom—the freedom to choose differently, to rewrite the story, to heal this part of my life. And in doing so, independent of the disease itself, I bring more health into my life.

The world is complex, and we cannot control all the factors that influence our health. But when we cultivate well-being where it’s needed, we become healthier—whether or not that reflects in the course of the disease.

So if "Why?" finds its way to your doorstep—transform it. Look it in the eye and turn it into fertile soil (and we all know what fertilizer is made of!)—something that nourishes you, allowing you to grow.

Let's try it together: "What now?" for you? Feel free to share in the comments…