India, March 15 -- James Van Der Beek is opening up about his personal journey with colorectal cancer as he reflects on life and lessons learned. To mark his 48th birthday, the Dawson's Creek star shared an Instagram video titled "What cancer taught me," offering a candid look at his experiences.

In the clip which was shared on Saturday, March 8, the actor shared, 'It has been the hardest year of my life." He recalled how he "used to define myself as an actor" back in the days yet it was "never really all that fulfilling." He expressed that with age, he came to see himself as "the ultimate" role-"a loving, capable, strong, supportive" husband, father, provider, and "steward of the land."

And while those definitions gave him a sense of s...