Everyone who has gotten a cancer diagnosis will remember the moment that they first heard the news. Shock, anger, disbelief and questioning are all common reactions—and these fit with Campbell’s next step, defined as “Refusal of the Call.” Yet, many cancer survivors experience an inner transformation—whether or not a physical healing occurs.

Stephen Joseph, PhD, author of What Doesn’t Kill Us, states that studies show across studies of people who have gone through stressful events, between 30 and 70% of those report positive transformation in the form of renewed relationships, the courage to make changes, greater self-awareness and creativity, or the inspiration to “give back” and make a change in the world…