Introduction
Introduction By: Patrick Nolan
Welcome back to Chapter Eleven of Decode Your Diagnosis Embracing a Growth Mindset.
I’m Patrick Nolan the Digital team anchor and in this chapter, Paul shares what it really looked like and felt like to rebuild after everything collapsed.
Not in theory, but in the lived experience of a heart crash, a diagnosis, and the quiet moment when the old version of yourself no longer fits.
What you’re about to hear is raw, grounded, and hopeful because growth in the Titan way, isn’t about pushing through.
It’s about transforming through.
Embracing a Growth Mindset
Written By: Paul Cobbin
Narrated By: Paul Cobbin
Embodying resilience during a medical setback like my heart crash of 2024, was one of the most defining moments of my health journey.
At the time, I didn’t have a formal framework to follow, but I was journaling daily, trying to make sense of my rapid decline. In doing so, I realized that I needed a structured approach to navigate this crisis. That realization became the seed for what would eventually become the decision models I rely on today.
I was in medical freefall. If I didn’t take immediate action, I knew I would be facing a life-threatening event within a matter of weeks.
To regain control, I developed a crude version of a decision tree, mapping out all potential causes and solutions:
Was my stress load too high?
Was I overexerting myself physically?
Were my medications interacting poorly?
By going through this process, I identified root causes, engaged my psychologist to help with mental and emotional load, and made critical adjustments to my treatment plan. The result? A complete stabilization within eight weeks and return to work.
This experience reinforced the power of structured decision-making in managing chronic illness.
Self-compassion has been a constant struggle for me, and as a Titan, managing the comorbidity of heart disease and prostate disease, that struggle became even more apparent. The turning point came during a therapy session when I caught myself berating my body for being "weaker" than it used to be. My psychologist gently interrupted and asked, "Would you speak to a friend that way?" That moment landed hard. It was the first time I saw how cruel my internal dialogue had become. From then on, I began practicing moments of self-kindness, not perfectly, but with increasing awareness that compassion isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.
In the summer of 2024, we decided to sell our home of 29 years. Maintaining acreage wasn’t feasible long-term, and we didn’t want to wait until my heart condition worsened to make a move.
Despite promising my wife I wouldn’t overexert myself, guilt got the better of me. One weekend, I jumped in to help clear under the house and pushed myself like nothing had changed. By 11am, I felt spaced out, was completely drained and looked ghostly white. My wife intervened, sending me inside to recover and banishing me from further physical activity relating to the house cleanup.
It took hours of full mental and physical rest and a nap before I felt remotely normal again.
That moment was a turning point. I realized that my own expectations of myself were unrealistic, I was still measuring my capabilities by my pre-diagnosis standards. That needed to change.
I learned that resilience is not just about pushing forward, it’s about knowing when to stop. Adjusting my mindset around self-compassion and introducing meditation to provide moments of mental rest and reflection became critical assistants for managing the condition effectively.
In yet another example when I was diagnosed with prostate disease, I knew surgery was necessary and like many men diagnosed with this condition, the fear of losing my masculinity clouded my decision-making process. I am informed that women undergo similar concerns when it comes to breast cancer and femininity.
In my case, I was yet to consider the alternatives.
At 50 years old, the thought of incontinence and erectile dysfunction felt devastating. Despite knowing I needed intervention, I was yet to understand what it would mean for my identity.
What shifted my perspective?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy and realizing that incontinence wasn’t a guaranteed outcome if I took proactive steps.
Conversations with a prostate cancer nurse who walked me through the realities of surgery and recovery.
Recognizing that survival mattered more than outdated societal perceptions.
Once I made peace with my decision, I realized that true resilience means embracing change, even when it challenges our deeply held beliefs. It reminded me of the bold simplicity of a Katherine Hamnett t-shirt, the kind Wham! made famous in the ‘80s; CHOOSE LIFE.
Unapologetic, direct, and refusing to be ignored. Just like the shirt’s defiant message, this realization challenged me to redefine strength, not as control or perfection, but as the willingness to adapt, accept, and choose life on new terms.
The Core Elements of a Growth Mindset
Resilience Through Setbacks
Life with a diagnosis is rarely linear. A growth mindset helps you see setbacks not as failures but as stepping stones. Titans can navigate setbacks by:
Identifying the Internal Force (e.g., fear, frustration) and External Force (e.g., isolation, conflicting advice) creating imbalance.
Focusing attention on the affected Element.
Finding small, meaningful steps to restore Dynamic Harmony and keep moving forward.
Example: A Titan faces a fitness setback after an injury. By identifying frustration (Internal) and physical limitations (External), they focus on Body, selecting restorative actions like stretching or mindfulness until recovery.
The Role of Self-Compassion
A growth mindset thrives on self-compassion, the practice of treating yourself with kindness. Self-compassion can be practiced intentionally by aligning decisions with Dynamic Harmony. For example:
Mind: Reflective journaling to process self-doubt.
Body: Prioritizing rest during periods of fatigue.
Soul: Engaging in gratitude practices to reconnect with purpose.
The ‘Yet’ Perspective
When faced with a chronic diagnosis, it’s easy to feel trapped by limitations and the overwhelming weight of what lies ahead. But what if every challenge, every setback, every struggle could be reframed as an opportunity for growth? Enter the power of “yet.”
The word “yet” transforms defeat into possibility. It turns “I can’t do this” into “I can’t do this yet.” This simple shift in perspective forms the foundation of a growth mindset, a way of thinking that embraces challenges, values learning, and sees potential in every situation.
One of the simplest yet most profound tools in cultivating a growth mindset is adding the word “yet” to your inner dialogue.
“I can’t feel balanced” becomes “I can’t feel balanced yet.”
“I don’t know how to move forward” becomes “I don’t know how to move forward yet.”
This perspective transforms “yet” into tangible progress.
Extending Growth Past Treatment
After treatment we enter into what is called the Survivorship phase, and it is about maintaining resilience and sustaining healthy habits. Titans can strengthen their focus by making small adjustments to daily routines while keeping long-term goals in view.
Example: A Titan re-prioritizes Body after a period of physical complacency, choosing small steps like walking or meal prepping to rebuild momentum.
Reinvention
The Ultimate Expression of Growth
Reinvention moves beyond stability into creativity and contribution. The growth mindset shines here, enabling Titans to set new goals and align their decodingwith purpose.
Example: A Titan in Reinvention explores Soul-focused actions, such as starting a passion project or mentoring others.
Practical Integration
Daily Practices to Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Reframing Challenges
Turn setbacks into growth opportunities:
Identify forces causing imbalance
Focus on the affected Element.
Select a Dynamic Harmony action and reflect on its impact.
Tracking Small Wins
Document daily progress, no matter how small. Celebrate victories aligned with your Trinity.
Visioning for Reinvention
Imagine what life could look like in Reinvention. Reinvention tends to happen after we have decoded the diagnosis and after any clinical intervention. It’s when we can start to reflect on who we were before the condition and who we would like to reinvent ourselves to become in the future. What passions or goals have you put on hold? Break these aspirations into achievable steps.
Growth begins with belief, but it deepens with awareness. In order to move forward, you must first understand where you are now and where, or more importantly who you’d like to be in the future.. In the next chapter, we’ll take a closer look at how awareness and self-compassion work hand in hand to help you build the emotional and mental resilience needed to decode your diagnosis and stay aligned with your deeper purpose.
Key Insight
A growth mindset isn’t about relentless positivity, it’s about courageous adaptability. Titans grow not by denying setbacks, but by reframing them into progress, one intentional step at a time.
Practical Reflections
Before moving on to the next chapter let’s remember that a growth mindset isn’t a destination, it’s a way of navigating life. By embracing the power of “yet,” practicing self-compassion, and staying aligned, you can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and resilience.
Your diagnosis doesn’t define you, how you choose to respond does.
Think of a current doubt related to your diagnosis and transform it into a “yet” expression.
Take your “yet” expression and consider some action you can apply to address your yet expression now or in the near future.
Write down what a growth mindset looks like for your diagnosis.
Fama’s Sidebar
Harnessing the Power of Yet
The word ‘yet’ is small but mighty. It’s a reminder that growth is always possible, even when the path feels hard. When you face setbacks, pause and ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How does this challenge make me stronger? Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Remember, resilience isn’t about how fast you grow, it’s about staying committed to the journey. You’ve got this.
That was Chapter Eleven and if it stirred something in you, take a moment now.
To sit with what landed and notice which Element in Mind, Body, or Soul needs attention.
To practice even a small act of self-kindness is worth it, because, the truth is, a growth mindset doesn’t ask for perfection, it asks for presence.
And that’s something every Titan can offer, today.