Unlocking the Core Self: Mindful Occupation for Cancer Survivorship

Abstract

Individuals who survive cancer can often expect to live many additional years after remission. However, in order to achieve holistic well-being, these individuals may need to pursue life management approaches beyond the requisite coping strategies at the level of the physical (protoself) and the narrative (autobiographical) self. When viewed through the lens of neuroscientist Antonio Damasio's three-tiered framework, it is clear that future conceptualizations of the cancer survivor's unique self within occupational science must transcend Cartesian dualism by turning to a third level—the core self—that acts as a bridge between the physical body and the conscious mind. Ultimately, the authors suggest that through mindful engagement in everyday occupations, cancer survivors may unlock the core self and enjoy enhanced quality of life.

Keywords:

• Cancer
• Survivorship
• Mindfulness
• Core self
• Embodied knowledge

Acknowledgements

The authors extend their sincere thanks to the reviewers for their insightful comments. This paper was written in partial fulfillment of the first author's requirements for a doctoral degree in occupational science at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.