FEBRUARY THEME: SELF-DISCOVERY
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"What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? ~ Mary Oliver
In caring for myself and others over the last few months, I have had a few reminders of just how short and precious life is. I always look for "reasons" - not leaving much to chance - and look at these reminders to not take today for granted - and remind myself that tomorrow is not promised. These reminders offer opportunities to hold space for forgiveness and gratitude - for both myself and others.
These reminders also offer me an opportunity to slow down - pause - and notice. This greater self-awareness is at the root of self-discovery, this month's theme.
I find myself asking my loved ones that I provide care to - how do you want to LIVE in this season of life. And, then pause to ask myself the same question. Sometimes, they are aligned - sometimes they are not. I honestly didn't see myself as a lifelong caregiver - yet, here I am.
Just like you - I have good days, and bad days. I have days when I feel strong and confident in my caring - and days when I feel especially vulnerable. I have days when I am communicating effectively and days when I know it could be better.
You may recall that my intention for 2024 is to find ME again. As February came and went, the waves of life and caregiving haven't stopped - they keep coming - and I am still standing. I was forced to slow down in early February - catch my breath - and step out of the surf. It was hard to acknowledge that I can't do it all - all the time. As one of our participants has said - "I can't be all things to all people ... especially if I don't take care of myself, too."
I think of self-discovery as being my most authentic true self - living my most authentic true life. AND, if you don't know what that looks like - that's OK. You're a perfectly imperfect work in progress - learning and growing every day.
As I work to find ME again, our February curriculum topics offer the perfect 3 tools for discovering your true self. Maybe they'll help you in your journey of self-discovery, too? Start by noticing - slow down, settle down, close your eyes and visualize your ideal self.
- WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY? Feeling joy is a boost to your soul, connects you to others, and can be contagious. You are worthy of experiencing joy, from small moments to major life events. Show the world you can be joyful.
- IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS. You are a unique person with many strengths, some of which you may not have even discovered yet. Cultivate your interests and abilities because they help you to be resilient, well-rounded, interesting and an interested individual. Be confident in who you are and what you can do. It makes you different and special!
- HOLD SPACE FOR SELF-COMPASSION. You are as deserving of compassion and love as those to whom you give your compassion and love. We grow and improve ourselves by making mistakes. So instead of beating yourself up, just figure out what lesson can be learned and move on. By showing yourself compassion, you increase your capacity to give compassion to others, so everyone wins!
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SELF-DISCOVERY AFFIRMATIONS
Use affirmations to inspire you or reframe your thoughts
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Through joy, I open myself to new possibilities
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By identifying my strengths, I encourage myself to keep going
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Being kind to myself makes me stronger
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Self-discovery helps me be a kinder, more open-hearted person
APPS FOR SELF-DISCOVERY
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NPR’s Joy Generator - This app allows you to read and watch short articles and clips that are meant to arouse feelings of joy.
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Make Me Better - This app helps keep you motivated and offers articles on self-improvement, health, productivity, and more!
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ThinkUp-Daily Affirmations - This app provides affirmations to help with motivation, optimism, and self-esteem.
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My Diary - This app allows you to customize your own diary and begin your journey of self-discovery through journaling.
BOOKS
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Meet Barb Heltzel. Wait - you know her already?! Of course, you do! Barb has been part of Courage to Caregivers since the beginning with her longest role being the beloved Support Group Volunteer Peer Leader for Tuesday Night’s Coaching Group. She’s now taken on an additional role at Courage to Caregivers - that of a Certified Family Peer Supporter (CFPS). Courage to Caregivers’ newest program offering is Family Peer Support. Read more about Barb here.
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We're seeking input regarding our Fireside Chat series. This series has been, in the past, largely planned by our staff, and we want to hear from you on what you need and who you want to hear! All individuals who complete the questionnaire by March 4 will be entered into a drawing to receive a copy of our custom journal - Courage to Caregivers Resilience Guidebook.
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We love it when our caregivers have GREAT ideas and we are able to make them happen! We're now providing daily inspirational texts using Remind (used by most school districts in our area) that coordinate with our curriculum. We won't spam you - just offer daily inspirational quotes and micro-challenges. Participants registered for weekly programs will receive an invitation to join their group's "class" and receive any updates regarding group as reminders as well. You can send a text to 81010 with this message @ctcdaily OR use this link to create a Remind account, and voila - you'll start getting our daily inspirational messages! You can unsubscribe at any time!
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March's book club discussion will be on Friday, March 29 at 11 am ET via Zoom. We'll be discussing Laurie Cameron's The Mindful Day Practical Ways to Find Focus, Calm, and Joy from Morning to Evening. Grab it from your library or listen to the audiobook on the Audible app! "Cameron’s practical wisdom and concrete how-to steps will help you make the most of the present moment, creating a roadmap for inner peace – and a life of deeper purpose and joy." Mark your calendar for March 29 - here's the link!
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Mindfulness allows us to find ourselves in times of stress, pain, and fear. By practicing mindfulness, we can better connect to and understand our feelings, allowing us to choose our next steps. Throughout March, we will practice emotional regulation, being present, and finding happiness and laughter. As we continue on the journey of discovering our true selves, setting micro-goals will guide us. Check out March's Micro-Challenges Calendar.
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Courage to Caregivers Breathing Practice for March: Kapalabhati Breathing
As we support caregivers to make breathing and meditation a practice, we're pleased to share our Breathing Meditation Facilitator Cathy and her monthly breathing practice how-to videos. You can join us for March's Breathing Practice - Kapalabhati Breathing (Breath of Fire.) With this practice, we will bring warmth and energy to our body to help with motivation. As a note, if you have glaucoma or unmedicated high blood pressure, please refrain from practicing this breath for your safety. You can watch the March's instructional video for Kapalabhati Breathing (Breath of Fire) here and remember to subscribe to our 2024 Monthly Breathing Practices playlist to stay updated each month. You can also subscribe to our Breathing Meditation playlist, where we upload our weekly breathing meditation recordings, and follow along on our Spotify Breathing Meditation playlist.
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The mission of Courage to Caregivers is to provide hope, support, and courage to caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness. We're in the caregiver burnout prevention business!
©2024 Courage to Caregivers, Inc.
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