Seeing the Light
Finding flashes of joy in the often complicated and difficult task of being a caregiver requires a “soft focus” frame of mind.
Dear Caregivers,
One of the special wonders of being alive are the reminders, every so often, of our unique place in the universe. We live on this amazing “blue marble” of a planet, isolated in space with the solar system, Milky Way galaxy, and the rest of the universe all around us. Yet every once in a while, we get a visitor from outer space, in the form of a meteor streaking across the sky, reminding us that there is more to the cosmos than our humble earthly existence.
You can see meteors any night of the year, but this weekend presents a special opportunity to see a “shower” of multiple meteors, called the Eta Aquariids, which is caused by earth passing through a cloud of space debris associated with Halley’s Comet.
Watching for meteors is fairly simple: Find a place to sit outside at night, and look up. The key is not to actively search for a meteor to come; rather, simply relax and let your eyes broadly and softly focus to take in the entire night sky. If a meteor does occur, your eyes will instinctively move towards the streaking light, and you will be rewarded with a special thrill.
In the same way, finding flashes of joy in the often complicated and difficult task of being a caregiver requires the same kind of “soft focus” frame of mind. As a caregiver, it’s often hard to actively seek out the flashes of pleasure and joy that come from your everyday efforts. Let’s face it: Caregiving is hard work!
However, if you are able to relax and open yourself to opportunities, those wonderful moments will come to you. It may be a simple loving squeeze of the hand, a brief instance of appreciation that you see in your loved one’s eyes, or finding you and your loved one relaxing together in a moment of calm that suddenly appears unannounced.
Whatever it is, and whenever it happens, you need to be in the frame of mind to receive it in all its glory. To do that, you need to make sure that you are continually caring for yourself: You need to be rested, relaxed, and confident in your abilities to cope with the challenges ahead, which no doubt will be considerable! But it is only when you have achieved this relaxed and calm state of mind that you will be receptive to the flashes of the joy that will give your caregiving journey a special meaning, which you will remember forever.
Here are some tips for preparing yourself to “see the light”:
Finding the Joy as a Family Caregiverver:
The challenge that family caregivers face is to learn acceptance, to live in the present moment, and to let go of things you cannot control. This is a challenge to be sure, but if there can be any joy in caregiving, this is where it is. Here’s how to find that joy.
Sleep the Stress Away:
The quality of your sleep is strongly connected to your overall physical, cognitive, and emotional health, and lack of sleep is a leading complaint of caregivers. Here are some tips on how to get better quality sleep.
How to Practice a Daily Meditation:
Over the last 20 years extensive research at Harvard and other prestigious universities, has shown that only 20 minutes of daily meditation has dramatic effects on your mental and physical health. Here’s how to begin a meditation practice.
Remember, if you can’t find the information you need on our website, you can always “Ask NAN” by clicking on this link.
Best,
Rosemary D Laird, MD, MHSA
Founder and Chief Medical Officer
“We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.”
— Joseph Campbell
