Neighbor News
Sense of Purpose
It's easy to lose sight of your purpose as a family caregiver. You can find it again.
Caregivers have to juggle many tasks; sometimes more than seem possible at one time and often without warning or preparation. This is the nature of taking care of a loved one: anticipating needs, addressing unexpected issues and complications, and more. And this is, of course, on top of taking care of yourself.
With such a potentially hectic, ever-changing landscape it’s very hard to stay focused. Most caregivers ask themselves from time to time why they are doing what they. I know there were times when I felt overwhelmed and wondered if maybe others could do it better than me. I found myself asking if I was the right person for the job, so to speak.
It’s easy at times like that to feel unfocused and unclear about why you decided to make such a commitment as caregiving. In short, you lose your sense of purpose.
Having a sense of purpose can be helpful for a variety of reasons. According to a new Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai Roosevelt study a sense of purpose can not only stabilize your focus, it can also lower your health risks.
According to a Science Daily article, purpose in life is defined as “a sense of meaning and direction, and a feeling that life is worth living.” The study went onto to note that “a high sense of purpose is associated with a 23 percent reduction in death from all causes and a 19 percent reduced risk of heart attack, stroke, or the need for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) or a cardiac stenting procedure.”
Wow! The doctors involved in the study encourages you to ask yourself what your purpose is. If you aren’t sure, then now is the time to begin to define those goals.
What is it you like most about caretaking a loved one? How important is it that you take on this role and what meaning does it offer you?
Don’t forget to ask that question about the rest of your life, too. Start noticing how you feel when you accomplish specific tasks or participate in particular activities. These could become your guideposts to a more purposeful life.
To read more about the study, click here.
To download a free copy of 13 Tips for Caregivers, click here.
