“We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are.” — Anais Nin
Since you’re reading this, I’ll assume you’re wondering how to solve the puzzle of living your life and acting as a caregiver.
It isn’t a matter of finding the right balance, as if there is some magical balance to be obtained. Caregiving requires a different perspective, a different view.
After being on this journey and reflecting on my experiences, I realized caregiving was full of opportunities to know myself, to free myself from suffering - I just needed to know what to practice.
Caregivers Journey is a spiritual approach to caregiving, rooted in Self-Inquiry, with a view that All That There Is, Is God.
11 Practices of the Journey
We hold the view that the path to understanding our caregiving journey is rooted in Self-Inquiry.
We accept that the path to understanding our reactions to caregiving is through our feelings.
We hold the view that there is order in the universe. Caregiving is not an accident, a detour, or an interruption in our lives but is placed before us for our benefit.
4. We seek to discover within ourselves a reverence for all things, a respect for all things.
5. We work at seeing objectively, seeing what is before us as “given,” not interjecting ourselves into every situation.
6. We work at holding a dispassionate attitude, not binding ourselves to results, objects, people, or places.
7. We practice steadiness in our commitment to caregiving from beginning to end.
8. We embrace an accommodative attitude, not reacting to the behaviors of the person in our care but embracing the “whole” person.
9. We commit to not harming the person in our care in words, thoughts, attitudes, or actions.
10. We recognize that the person in our care has their own journey. Though it appears their journey is diverging from our journey, it’s not. We have always been walking our separate paths together.
11. We surrender to the fact that there is more going on in our lives that is beyond our understanding and beyond our control. We accept the things we cannot change and pray for the courage, wisdom, and knowledge to change what we can.
“Tony, I’m very, very grateful for your generous sharing and for holding the space for all of us to experience this Caregivers Journey. It’s been so special to be a part of this group. I treasure what I’m learning. Thank you so much.”
— Patricia, Workshop Participant