New Beginnings don’t happen all at once. They can be a soft accumulation of things that have been brewing for a long time. A New Beginning can be adjusting to the new role of a caregiver; a role that you might not have chosen, but it chose you.
We can’t close our eyes or ears to what is happening in the world around us, but changing our reactions is possible. What you give yourself is a crucial ingredient in creating change and making a positive impact both in your life and the world at large.
I think of journaling like a trusted friend – one you can let your ‘hair’ down and write what is bubbling up. No judgment. I also love to use it for gratitude – a wonderful place to focus on the end of your day on what went RIGHT vs. focusing on what may have gone wrong—a lovely way to go to sleep at night.
Your feelings come up for a reason, so burying them may seem like what you need to do (“I’ll deal with it later.” Sound familiar?), but by doing so, you are creating a path for eruption later. Give yourself time. Allow yourself the downtime to reflect on what you are feeling and what is happening in your life. Pick up that journal and let yourself uncover what may be going on inside of you. Doing so may unearth something that has been needing light, and by addressing it, a solution may be possible. LISTEN to what your heart says – it knows a lot.
The unpredictability of caregiving can set us up to be on our toes for what might come next, but when we find ourselves in a bit of overwhelm, the small things can start adding up. Before we know it, the little things have become issues to be reconciled.
