Lisa Caughman Payne, a cancer survivor, and positive psychology practitioner committed to enhancing well-being, resilience, and overall flourishing for both individuals and communities. She offers video consultations as part of The After Cancer's Care Team.
Learning to live after the diagnosis
I was diagnosed with Colon Cancer on June, 16 2016. On July 6, I received the unsettling news that after removing 12 inches of my ascending colon, cancer was found on my liver. Enter, Dr. Austin, my current Oncologist, who told me I had a 9 month life expectancy. Well, how about that folks. Hmmmm.
Today, I am writing my blog from a lovely room in Padua, Italy. I just completed 6 miles of walking in the city. I attended mass in the Basilica di San Antonio and loved breathing the air, listening to the Priest speak in Latin, watching the heartfelt response of the congregation and so much more. A beautiful moment in my life.
Positive psychology practitioner
You see, after cancer, I learned how to live. I was running out of time, and I had to get things done. I have learned to love more deeply, belly laugh, savor more, and ruminate in negativity less. In 2021, I attended The Flourishing Center and received my certification in Applied Positive Psychology. As a Positive Psychology Practitioner, I have learned to embrace, practice and grow using the PERMA model, founded by Martin Seligman in 1999, later adapted to the PERMAV model by The Fourishing Center Founder, Emiliya Zhivotovskaya. My career as a Public Health Administrator, Executive Leader, and now, Life Navigator have prepared me to inspire you on your journey. Cancer is hard, cancer sucks, and cancer throws us a curve ball that none of us want to catch. I am confident that my purpose after cancer is to serve you. My goal is to serve as a confidential thought partner, life navigator, and guiding light, helping you thrive after cancer.
The PERMAV model pathways are, Positivity, Engagement, Relationship, Meaning, Achievement and Vitality. We will use these pathways to review your strengths, develop tools and review what you have inside that you can use to live your best life. Together we thrive.