How about we next travel from Respect to Truth as we complete the SUPPORT acronym outlining what every caregiver deserves? Let’s change that to demand! That is, from facilities, agencies and organizations who purport to stand for aging populations but are nowhere to be found when you need them most.Mahatma Gandhi said it well: “Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly.” While declared in a very different context from ours, I find this visionary’s statement equally pertinent as we dive into the eldercare TRUTH I urge you to speak.
What Are the Hallmarks of TRUTH?
First and foremost, you fundamentally trust your service provider to have your back. A safe relationship where each party has permission to speak their honesty has been deliberately co-created. You can even agree to disagree. Shouldn’t such tenets be a given? Allow me to simply ask, if common courtesy were so common, would anyone need to write about it? All I know is, my voice was silenced so often by healthcare systems and more, it wasn’t even funny.
What Signs Point to a Shut-Down of TRUTH?
Speaking of which, the range of signals that confirm denial of your reality are astounding. Have you ever felt lied to, even if you can’t put your finger on it? Does any CYA (Cover Your Ass) show up amongst team members hired to support you? Does it sometimes seem your representative is a Teflon man or lady? Nothing ‘sticks’ to him or her. All are distinct signs! Either way, you’ve been disappointed so often, it’s hard to believe their sincerity.
Questions for Reflection
Because TRUTH is so vital, I’m inviting you this week to reflect upon this theme overall – beyond caregiving.
- Where in your life do you silence expression of what’s true for you?
- When others attempt to shut down your truth, will you stand for it?
- What does a “safe space” mean to you in your interactions?
Next Steps
To expand your contemplations, I direct you to several places.
In particular, the October 24th episode of my weekly radio show at www.boldbravemedia.com/shows/the-conscious-caregiver/ will highlight the importance of self-love, self-respect and more.
Always, you can arrange your Free Readiness Session to determine how I can best serve you at https://www.copingwithuncopeableparents.com/coaching. I look forward to hearing from you!
Carol-Ann Hamilton
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