Caregiving Corner: Five steps to finding a peaceful perspective

By Medicine Hat News on April 13, 2018.

Here are five steps caregivers can take to help put in place a plan for you to discover a peaceful perspective that will bring more life balance and calmness into your day.

When you create a peaceful perspective, through focus and attention, you open up possibilities and solutions you have never considered.

P — PLAN — First, want to know where you are going. Are you looking for fun? Alone time? Couple time? Family time? Do things on your bucket list? To get started, what if you could do only one thing on the list, what would it be? What resources do you need: finances, time, adjusting treatment schedule, medical assistance?

E — ENGAGE — In the Engage stage you start to find answers to the questions in the planning stage. Write down all the people who might be able to help you. In my book, Walking the Journey Together É Alone, I have a resource section that lists some of the adult wish granting organizations. Who can help with finances or fundraising, accompanying you to help with medical care, approving time off work? There are people who want to help you and you give them a gift when you allow them to help you.

A — ACTION — Take the action steps and move closer to what you want. Book your time off. Talk to the doctor about any medical issues you should look after. Doctors will often help you enjoy some meaningful moments and create lifelong memories with your family. Other steps might include: Talk to doctors about what you want to do; research and book the trip/buy tickets, etc; ask for help; etc.

C — COMPASSION — This is critical. Be gentle on yourself, and on the person you are caring for. The peaceful perspective will help you become unattached to any outcome you desire. Sometimes plans get abandoned. Have compassion when things don’t go quite right. Believe there will be another chance to finish the plan.

E — ENJOY — Take time to celebrate! Enjoy what you’ve created! It doesn’t matter if it’s a trip to Disneyland, or five minutes together in a park. You get to choose how you feel.

It’s true that peace and joy can be hard to find. Once you make your intention to enjoy something, get into action and roll with what happens. You will find joy and feel peace.

Lorna Scott is a caregiver strategist with The Caregiver’s Lighthouse, author of the best selling book Walking the Journey Together É Alone. Reach her at Lorna@TheCaregiversLighthouse.com (403) 548-8437.

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