Strengths-Based Resilience: Traci McCausland's Journey of Overcoming Cancer
Aug 22, 2024
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How do we leverage our strengths to overcome difficulties in our lives? Traci McCausland, a fellow CliftonStrengths coach, cancer survivor, mother of two, speaker, and future author, is a true testament to strengths-based resilience. I first heard about Traci seven years ago on the Called to Coach podcast. Her story of using her strengths to navigate her cancer journey was inspiring. I connected her with a colleague who was also battling cancer at the time.
Traci is a Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths coach. With a background in HR, consulting, and psychology, she has trained about 5,000 people on their strengths. However, her life took an unexpected turn in May 2017 when she was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer at just 39 years old.
"I had never had a mammogram because I was just 39 and those start when you're 40," Traci recalls. "It definitely turned our world upside down."
Despite the diagnosis, Traci courageously moved forward, attributing much of her resilience to the support of her family, friends, and medical team. Her husband, two young boys, parents, sister, and close friends provided a strong support system. Traci also praised the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for their exceptional care during her treatment.
When asked how she used her strengths to get through her cancer journey, Traci emphasized the importance of her support network and the care she received. However, she also noted that her strengths played a crucial role.
"I think strengths were at play immediately the day that I was diagnosed," she says. Her husband, Kent, asked the radiologist a very analytical question, highlighting his number one strength of Analytical. Her mom’s Restorative strength and her sister’s Empathy strength helped Traci through the difficult months ahead.
Traci's own strengths—Individualization, Harmony, Maximizer, Learner, and Belief—also came into play. She sought knowledge and support from others who had gone through similar cancer journeys, demonstrating her Learner and Maximizer strengths. This proactive approach led her to connect with a local breast cancer survivor who became her mentor.
About a week and a half after her diagnosis, Traci felt a nagging sense that she was meant to do something more with her experience. She noticed a gap in the literature—while there were numerous books on using strengths in various contexts, there wasn't one specifically for navigating cancer.
"I looked at all of these books, and it was like, boom! Where's the book that would tell me how to walk through these months ahead as myself, even though I have this new title of cancer survivor, how can I still do this as Traci?" she wondered. "So that was the moment where I just was like, this book isn’t here, so I guess I'll write it."
Over the past seven years, Traci has been working on her book, drawing on her own experiences and the stories of other cancer survivors. Her book aims to guide cancer patients through their treatment and healing journey using their strengths. She includes sections on understanding one's strengths, considerations during treatment, potential pitfalls, and advice for caregivers.
As Traci continues to write her book and share her story through speaking engagements, she remains committed to helping others navigate their cancer journeys with resilience and strength.
If you or someone you know has a story to share, especially related to using strengths during a cancer journey, Traci invites you to reach out to her at her website.
Stay tuned for more details as Traci continues to edit and get her book ready for publication. In the meantime, let's continue to dominate our days by leveraging our strengths, supporting one another, and embracing resilience in the face of adversity.
About Traci McCausland
Traci McCausland is a CliftonStrengths coach that helps organizations implement a strengths-based culture. She is also a cancer survivor, mother of two, speaker, and future author.
Episode Minutes:
- Minute 3:00 — Applying Strengths to Overcome Challenges
- Minute 8:00 — Incorporating Strengths in Cancer Survival
- Minute 10:00 — Writing The Book: Inspiration and Process
Episode Links:
- Visit followyourstrengths.com
- Connect with Traci on LinkedIn
- Get your copy of The Strengths Journal
- Visit Dana Williams Consulting Website
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