“Tips for Caregivers, Near and Far”
February 18, 2018
Tip #11 – Decisions Can Often Be As Clear As Mud
Whether your loved one lives with you, in the same time zone, or thousands of miles away, there are often big decisions that need to be made involving their care, living situation, medical procedures, medications, etc. Often, the right choices are not at all clear. There are many choices, frequently none of which are “perfect” and you will be asked to decide…or to help your loved one decide…which is the best decision that fits for them.
Being responsible for such heavy decision-making about issues that can be so unclear can certainly keep any of us up at night and cause us to become anxious and confused. Here are some ways to wade through the muddy waters:
- Get as much information as possible. Talk to professionals, research on reliable websites, talk to friends, neighbors, and any other caregivers you can find who might have had experience with the same issues. Talk to your loved-one’s doctors, physical therapists, paid caregivers, etc., and get second opinions. Read books related to the topics at hand.
- If you’re still feeling confused and anxious about the decisions, take a break. Take walks, exercise, meditate, go out in nature, taking your thoughts off of the subject for a short period of time. This will give your mind a chance to quiet down from the anxious thoughts and allow your inner knowing, your higher wisdom, to process all of the information you’ve been given and to find the answer that best fits for your specific situation. The answer may come to you as a feeling of being shouted out by your inner self, “this is it!,” or it may come as a whisper.
- If this still doesn’t work, spend time, again, quieting your mind, and then imagine that you’ve made a decision. See and feel what life is like after that particular action has been taken. Now quiet your mind and imagine what it looks like and feels like after making the opposite decision. This often gives greater insight.
- Finally, remember that there are no perfect decisions and we only discover mistakes after the decision has been made and didn’t work out. Most of us don’t own a crystal ball and cannot predict with 100% accuracy how it will work out, no matter which way we go. As I wrote about in my last tip, Tip #10 – Forgive Yourself, “We all make mistakes. We’re human.” Don’t be hard on yourself for doing the best you could to figure out the right course of action.
For more about Finding Your Inner Peace During Times of Turmoil and making tough decisions at those times, tune into today’s internet radio show or catch it on podcast!
And keep your eyes open for news right here and HERE about my new book, The Passionate Life: Creating Vitality & Joy at Every Age (with chapters on this topic) coming to your favorite booksellers THIS year!!
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