This ultrasound image reminds me that every health journey begins with our daily habits, choices, and self-care that write the next chapter
July 2016. I felt an intense pain on the right side of my neck for more than a week. There was no improvement even after applying some analgesic creams, so I decided to look deeper into it. I visited a physician, and after an ultrasound on my neck area, the doctor found something and referred me to an ENT specialist. Then came the words I never expected to hear.
Doctor: “Miss Wong, we found a 2.2 cm lump at your right thyroid. We don’t know whether it is cancerous or not, and I advise you to remove it through surgery to prevent it from mutating after some time.”
Me: “What are the side effects after the surgery? Would that affect my hormones and voice?”
Doctor: “Yes, there is a small percentage of it affecting your voice and hormones, but we can take care of it. Are you okay for the surgery next Tuesday?”
Me: “Hold on. Let me sink in for a little moment and get back to you.”
I never got back to the doctor. Instead, I went for a second opinion with another specialist, who suggested that I wait for a while and observe. So, I decided to wait and monitor.
But what do you think was the first question I asked myself when I walked out of the doctor’s office? It wasn’t, “Why me?” or “What is going to happen to me?” Instead, I was shocked by my own question: “What is the one thing you want to do right now, no matter how long you’re going to live — three months, one year, or three years?”
Instantly, I knew the answer deep inside my gut: I want to inspire and transform lives. I had some ideas about what I wanted to do, but I did not have the courage to step out of my comfort zone. I realised that before I could inspire others, the first person I needed to influence was myself. The next question that came to my mind was, “What can I do to heal myself?” When you ask the right question, you will start to get the right answer.
I am a nutritionist, but having the knowledge does not mean I was practising what I knew. Common knowledge is not common practice. At that time, my lifestyle as a pharmaceutical sales manager was all about travelling and eating outside food. Sometimes, chips and canned caffeinated drinks were my go-to snacks when I was driving on a long journey.
I knew some things about my condition, and I also pulled in resources to help me — functional medicine doctors and a naturopath practitioner. Then I made a decision. I decided to change my crazy lifestyle into a healthy one.
I changed my lifestyle completely, and those around me were shocked, especially my teammates. They were surprised by the sudden change in the way I ate and moved. After three months, my friends began to notice the difference.
“You look slimmer and more energetic than last time! What changes did you make?”
“Just doing some lifestyle changes. Happy to know I look better than last time!” I replied.
I lost 1 kg every month for six months — 6 kg in 6 months — and I have maintained this weight until today. But the biggest change was not my weight. This circumstance gave me the perfect chance to think deeply about what I really wanted in my life. After a few months of sitting with my questions, I tendered my resignation as a pharmaceutical sales manager and started my own business. I finally stepped out of my comfort zone and started doing what I had always wanted to do — to inspire and transform lives.
Now, back to the lump.
Almost two years later, my mum asked me to go for a check-up. I felt good and was not really eager to check it, but to give her peace of mind, I revisited the same hospital for an ultrasound. During the scan, the radiologist came back and forth to double-check. He could not find the lump that he had found two years ago. With a surprised face, he asked me, “The lump disappeared! What have you done?”
I smiled. I did not have a simple answer. What I knew was that something had changed. And perhaps the biggest change did not begin with what I ate. It began with a question. And then a decision.
What I learned
Common knowledge is not common practice. Knowing something does not mean we are practising it. Knowledge becomes meaningful when we put it into action.
Awareness is the foundation of change. Once we become aware of where we are, we can begin to make different choices.
Decision matters. The moment you decide, you associate yourself with a new identity. When your identity shifts, your choices and actions begin to change.
Ask the right questions. The questions we ask ourselves can open us to possibilities we may never have considered.
Resourcefulness creates choices. We can seek knowledge, ask questions and get another opinion instead of simply accepting the first answer we receive.
Action creates momentum. A decision may happen in a split second, but transformation comes from the actions we continue taking afterwards.
If I had listened to the first doctor I consulted with, I would have gone through the surgery. My journey could have been very different.
I am not saying that surgery is wrong or that we should ignore medical advice. What I am saying is that we can ask questions, seek another opinion, gather information and explore the choices available to us.
Sometimes, the most powerful transformation begins with one simple question: “What do I really want?” And sometimes, the answer is already there, deep inside our gut.
When you are ready, connect with me here: https://www.joyce-wong.com/coaching-malaysia
