How many times have you done something and then doubted it? Perhaps you’ve been faced with making a decision and found yourself paralyzed about your next steps.
Doubt happens to family caregivers making difficult decisions about their loved one’s well being, many happening at the last minute. How many of you lay in bed at night recounting your days and asking how you could have approached a situation differently and were the decisions you made the right ones? Finding a way to make peace with what you’ve done is essential.
The following questions are an excellent way to help you get clarity, and perhaps give you a perspective on how you might do something differently:
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Were your intentions good?
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Did you pause for a moment before making your decisions instead of rushing into them?
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Did you speak your truth instead of reacting in anger or haste?
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If you have made a mistake are you willing to forgive yourself?
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How might you address the same situation differently?
No one escapes; we all make mistakes. It’s giving yourself the opportunity to review what’s happened and learn from it to help you navigate as you move through your caregiving journey.
Be present, be here, practice self-love. Remember the positive things that have happened, your successes, the difference you’ve made. Be your own advocate and support system; it creates a difference. But please don’t forget the importance of reaching out to others for support. Being able to discuss situations helps you gain clarity.
Writing things down instead of hanging on to what could have been is also very healing, so I encourage you to start journaling so that you have a way of looking back at times as they’ve occurred. Doing so allows you to overcome your own obstacles and thoughts and remember just how much of a positive difference you make.
One moment, one step, believe in YOU!
Hugs,
Cyndi