Perhaps it is age or simply a personal preference, but I have come to view this journey through life as an opportunity to grow spiritually. It seems to me that whatever happens, I can choose to use it as a learning experience or not. When confronted with changes or circumstances that are difficult to accept, I notice (depending on how painful the experience) myself resisting my present experience. This is my cue that I have room for growth. I have come to understand that resistance equals pain and acceptance equals growth. It seems to me that the beginning of wisdom lies in the acceptance of “what is”. My present experience is the “what is” and with a new perspective I can open my self to greater strength and wisdom.
I have been a caregiver for many years both as a Dr. of Oriental Medicine caring for my patients, and as a personal caregiver for a family member. During these years of caregiving I have felt most, if not all, of the common caregiver stresses-fear, overwhelm, burnout, anxiety, frustration, fatigue, anger and on and on. If you are a caregiver, you know how painful these feelings are when measured over a period of time. In my professional life, I have developed ways of dealing with most of my patient’s stress, but in my personal caregiving role, those same tools are not always as useful. To that end, I have meditated on, studied and developed strategies to help me not only cope but grow through my caregiving experience. This blog is intended to help other caregivers learn to (at least) manage their stress and (at best)grow spiritually through the “what is” of their caregiving experience and beyond. Take a look around…all you have to lose is some stress and suffering.
