What I Know for Sure…

Welcome to Caregiver Friday!!

Doesn’t the phrase “know for sure” sound nice?  Isn’t it the feeling you want when you are involved in the day-to-day care of someone facing a health challenge?  Surety brings peace of mind.  It gives you a sense of comfort and eases any doubts you may have about your role as a caregiver.  Then we come to a truth that many don’t realize; to know something for sure can only be the result of inner work.  Peaking in to your soul and answering the big questions.  What you know for sure has little to do with factual knowledge and a lot to do with soul knowledge.

When serving as a caregiver/wellness partner you are constantly bombarded with questions in hopes of making sure that you’re doing the caregiving thing correctly.  I’ve seen this to be a bigger factor for women because as natural caregivers there seems to be a bigger stake in getting the caregiving thing right.  If you allow them to, the questions will drive you mad.  They can become your greatest nightmare or your biggest gift…it’s your choice.

Let’s get back to the statement in the title, “What I know for sure.”  The answer to that statement is the foundation for more than just caregiving; it impacts your faith in human nature, your sense of fairness in the world, and your personal identity.  That’s why it’s so important that you take the time to do the inner work required so that every aspect of caregiving becomes an extension of who you are at your core.  It’s not about “becoming” something; it’s about living your truth.

I don’t think we, those outside your household, ask those of you providing care “what you know for sure”.  I’ve heard this type of conversation at memorial services when the caregiver/widow(er) does their own lessons learned sessions and shares that information with others.  My request is that you don’t wait till the person you’re caring for dies.  Take the time to do this inner work and seek your personal truth.  Your truth will emerge when you tell your story, so tell your story in detail and as often as you possible.  It will change your world…”that I know for sure!”