I Had Cancer. Cancer Did Not Have Me with Zulma Williams

Zulma Williams was six weeks out from graduating with her Bachelor of Social Work - finally stepping into the career she had always dreamed of when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was 46.  What happened next was not the story most people would expect. Instead of folding, Zulma changed the question. From **'why me?'** to **'why not me?'** From victim to CEO of her own ecosystem. She went on to complete her Master of Social Work, become a fully licensed psychotherapist specialising in trauma, anxiety, and depression, and move to Panama at 60 to wake up to the ocean every morning.  In this conversation with Bron, Zulma shares the reframes that changed everything, her fierce approach to self-advocacy in treatment, what it actually means to live by the motto **'I had cancer, cancer did not have me,'** and what she wants every person in a hard season to hear.  *Witty, unapologetic, and deeply wise - this one is exactly what Serenity Rising is made for.* **In This Episode**  - Zulma's story: born in Buenos Aires, immigrated to the US at 31, started her Bachelor of Social Work at 42, diagnosed with breast cancer just weeks after graduating at 46The reframe that changed everything: shifting from 'why me?' to 'why not me?' and why that single question moves you out of victim mentality immediately <!--THE END--> - The choice at the centre of every crisis: sit in the corner and wait, or stand up and fight <!--THE END--> - Her fierce self-advocacy in treatment refusing a 50/50 chemo offer, demanding better odds, and ultimately receiving a different treatment entirely because she pushed back <!--THE END--> - Being the CEO of your ecosystem: what active participation in your own medical decisions actually looks like <!--THE END--> - 'When you're in the picture, you cannot see the picture' - her philosophy on therapy and why a neutral perspective changes everything <!--THE END--> - What therapy is and isn't: 'I barely know what the f\*\** to do with my own life, let alone tell you what to do with yours. We're going to find the answers together.' <!--THE END--> - 'The apple tree doesn't eat the apple' - on sharing your story not for yourself but for the people who need to hear it <!--THE END--> - Her word for serenity: being at peace with the decisions you made with the information you had at the time <!--THE END--> - 14 years cancer free and how her motto plays out in daily life - Panama, the ocean, and living your dream now, not at 85 - Celebrating birthdays: 'there are people who didn't make it to 60' <!--THE END--> - Her closing message: if you woke up today, your mission is not complete **Connect With Zulma**  Website: https://dragonflytherapyservices.net  Instagram: @theswearingtherapist  Podcast: Keeping It Real with Zulma - The Swearing Therapist  *Zulma works with clients in the United States from Panama. Sessions available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday.*    **Connect With The Serenity Project**  Website: https://serenityproject.com.au Instagram: https://instagram.com/bron\_watson Facebook: https://facebook.com/bronwatsonme LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/bronwatson    *Make your moments matter because moments make memories, and that is how we make every day count.*