Managing Perceptions — Blog — Courage to Caregivers

NOVEMBER 2023 Newsletter: Collaboration ... We are better TOGETHER

"Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard and valued - when they can give and receive without judgment." ~ Brené Brown

As human beings we are hard-wired for collaboration. Our brains have a need to connect with others in order to thrive. Throughout November we focused on learning to say no, managing perceptions, compare and despair, as well as forgiveness and gratitude all as ways to collaborate.

As caregivers, we often feel isolated and alone in our caregiving. The journey as a mental illness caregiver is especially lonely, as we feel it isn’t OUR story to tell - it’s our loved one’s story of living with mental illness (or other chronic or serious illness).

As caregivers, we often feel judged or shamed for our actions (or lack of actions) - and this makes it hard to connect with those we feel "don't understand" or in relationships where we don't feel safe sharing – or being vulnerable – as our most authentic true selves.

Courage to Caregivers brings together caregivers and has created a community of CARE. A place where you’ll never feel alone in your caregiving again. Where you are accepted for who you are (and that's SO much MORE than "just" your caregiving responsibilities).

We are here to support you - as a caregiver - as YOU - in your personal growth journey towards greater health and well-being. 💙 When you take care of yourself (too), you provide better care to those you love.

As caregivers - we can support each other. Remember, you are never alone. We are here for you in your journey of caring. We're SO serious about this - that during the Holidays we've added daily weekday availability to "Meet Up" via Zoom. See article below for all the details!

5 TOOLS TO CONNECT WITH COURAGE

BE PRESENT: Turn off your notifications and devices; take a break from your to-do lists.
ACTIVE LISTENING: Notice your body language - listen to understand (not to respond).
BE VULNERABLE: Be your authentic true self.
BE EMPATHETIC: Empathy is NOT sympathy. Empathy is feeling "with" another person. Put yourself in the other person's shoes.
ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Be specific - people want to support you! Keep a list handy so you're always ready for "how can I help you?"

Check out our entire November newsletter focused on COLLABORATION here.

How Do You Perceive Your Perceptions?

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” – Henry David Thoreau

Let’s face it, the way we look at the world can often determine the way we form our opinions, our values, and even who we are. That’s why managing our perceptions is so crucial to self-growth. In many challenging situations, our perceptions are all we have to guide us.

CollaborationKristi HornerNovember 9, 2023Managing Perceptions

November Newsletter: Collaboration ... We are Better TOGETHER

"Connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard and valued - when they can give and receive without judgment." ~ Brené Brown

As caregivers, we often feel isolated and alone in our caregiving.

The journey as a mental illness caregiver is especially lonely, as we feel it isn’t OUR story to tell - it’s our loved one’s story of living with mental illness (or other serious illness).

As caregivers, we often feel judged or shamed for our actions (or lack of actions) - and this makes it hard to connect with those we feel "don't understand" or in relationships where we don't feel safe sharing – or being vulnerable – as our most authentic true selves.

Courage to Caregivers brings together caregivers and has created a community of CARE. A place where you’ll never feel alone in your caregiving again. Where you are accepted for who you are (and that's SO much MORE than "just" your caregiving responsibilities).

We are here to support you - as a caregiver - as YOU - in your personal growth journey towards greater health and well-being. 💙 When you take care of yourself (too), you provide better care to those you love.

Check out the November newsletter here focus on our theme of Collaboration here.

“You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know”

If we are truly honest with ourselves, we must admit that there are a lot of things we don’t know. Our perceptions are limited by many things, including our experiences, values, culture, personality, family, social skills, and relationships. But despite these limitations, our perceptions are all we have to inform our world view and the way we interact with others.

CollaborationKristi HornerNovember 10, 2022Managing Perceptions

Collaboration ... We are Better TOGETHER - November 2021 Newsletter

As human beings, we are hard-wired to connect - for COLLABORATION. Our brains have a NEED to connect with others in order to THRIVE.

Collaboration also can help caregivers move from SURVIVAL mode to THRIVAL mode.

THRIVAL is defined in the urban dictionary as "looking beyond your soul into the deepness of society's problems; sacrificing yourself and going beyond one's comfort zone in order to help the people around you."

I've met a lot of caregivers over the years - all of them are on a journey ... and it is definitely one of THRIVAL. But at Courage to Caregivers, we recognize that you may feel as though you’re languishing when you start out on your journey. That’s why we’ve added the concept of self-care to our own definition of THRIVAL. Our programs work to support caregivers in THRIVING, too.

Join us and find out how you, too, can move from languishing to flourishing - it's possible to THRIVE as a caregiver.

Read the full newsletter here.

Look Inside – How Are Your Perceptions Doing Today?

As caregivers, we can be hypersensitive about perceptions. How do others perceive our loved one, and how do they perceive us? How do we perceive them, and how do we perceive ourselves? Our perceptions are the lenses through which we all view the world, and if negative perceptions are left unchallenged, whether they’re our own or someone else’s, they can lead to failure or heartache.

CollaborationKristi HornerNovember 11, 2021Managing Perceptions