April Transformations
Spring is here, and transformation is all around us! I spent some time in my garden last week, and there is something special about watching flowers bloom and grow that gives us joy after coming through winter.
This is not unlike how I felt as a caregiver when I began to find the joy in the journey and connect the hardships with transformation and growth.
It has been a challenging winter in many regards, and I often spent my time indoors. As you can see from one of my favorite hobbies, spring was on my mind.
Two recent articles in the Heart of Caregiving blog were inspired by growth and transformation through struggle. I explore these topics in Part I of my book, 21 Mistakes Caregivers Make & How to Avoid Them: Solutions and Strategies to Reduce Stress and Increase Happiness.
I hope these articles inspire you to continue to walk through the challenges to reach the joy that the pain can sometimes obscure.
I am available to speak on caregiver empowerment, energy management, and happiness strategies. I would love to connect and discuss how we can empower your community!
Caregiving changes you
I was honored to be interviewed by Jack Canfield. Here is one of the segments from the interview. Jack asks me to explain what I mean when I say, “Caregiving changes you.” I would love to hear how caregiving has changed you.
Go From Struggle To Strength
When we embrace our identity as a caregiver we can go from struggle to strength and shift from grieving to gratitude, experience growth, and find ways to cherish the journey. It’s a process that requires self-compassion and self-care.
It is understandable why we might resist the title or role of caregiver even when technically fulfilling caregiving responsibilities.
Taking on the role of a caregiver often involves a significant shift in our identity. This change can be challenging to accept, especially if it clashes with our self-perception and personal goals.
In addition, caregiving can evoke a range of emotions, including guilt, sadness, and frustration. Accepting the caregiver role may mean acknowledging and dealing with these complex emotions, which can be challenging. The emotional strain can catch us off guard, and dealing with our emotions also requires facing the fears that flow underneath.
We may not want to face fear about how caregiving will impact our future, fear about the decline of our parent’s abilities and how this will impact our relationship, and fear about our own abilities and what will be required of us. We can go from struggle to strength when we embrace our identity as a caregiver.
Caregiver Tools & Resources
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