Living Energy Blog

Great conversation with Lori LaBey of Alzheimers Speaks. Here are some questions that she suggested that help caregivers (or anybody!) differentiate between healthy caregiving and enabling.

1. Do I want to do __________ for this person?
2. Am I motivated by love, fear or guilt?
3. Am I doing what I am doing because it is expected of me?
4. Is it what I want to give of myself?
5. Does this feel right to me?
6. Am I putting more effort into this than they are?
7. Will doing this make me feel good and why?

Join us as we interview Lori LaBey,of Alzheimer’s Speaks and Senior Lifestyle Trends. Over the past few years, Lori La Bey, has experienced life changing events while dealing with the loss of her Father who died of brain cancer, and her Mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Dealing with ill and aging parents turned Lori’s life upside down, and lit her passion to spread her LIVE TO BE PLLAFULL™ message to the world. In addition to Lori’s story, we’ll be discussing tools and techniques Lori has developed to help people live a balanced life when care giving. We invite you to join us as we discuss what helps and what hurts and how you can navigate the stresses, strains and conflicts of caring for others

Enhancing the neural circuitry of your brain improves your physical, mental, emotional health as well as adding to your capacity for happiness and adding years to your life. All of your energy can be enhanced by bringing your brain into synch and not letting it highjack your attention, capacity to focus, or ability to be calm and filled with ease.

 Hard work? No! Developing your ability to set clear intentions, using deep relaxation or meditation and opening to broader awareness is the way to accomplish an inner serenity that can bring you all the aforementioned benefits. It does require effort and perhaps change on your part but the rewards are well worth it.

You can begin by simply giving yourself persmission, time and space today to sit quietly for 10-20 minutes and breathe fully, easily, completely. Start small and build on a mindfulness or meditative practice. The accumulated results will be helpful and motivating as you begin to feel the quiet that develops within.

 It is often easier for us to work with gradual shifts in our daily routines   until we see and feel results that can spur us on to a deeper and more inclusive practice.

Tues., October 4th radio program

Peg and I had a great conversation with Viki Kind this morning on the radio show.  Her book is truly incredible—I only wish I had had it at the start of my care-giving journey. A wonderful gift to ease the way, lighten the burden and help you feel confident in your decisions for loved ones.

The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can’tguides families and healthcare professionals through the process of making decisions for those who are losing or have lost capacity to think.  Viki Kind has developed an adaptable system for making choices that comes as much from her heart as from her extensive experience as a bioethicist.  Readers will learn the framework and tools to create a good, ethical decision.  These tools will help give voice to those who can’t speak for themselves. The book provides specific strategies and questions to use along the decision making pathway.  This is not a one-size-fits-all solution but can be adapted depending on the individual’s level of incapacity and the situation. Throughout the book are personal and real-life stories to help illustrate these tools.  At the end of the book, Viki gives expanded end-of-life guidance for making the most difficult decisions.  Respect and compassion are the core values of this decision making process. 

To see the book, read reviews or purchase:

 http://www.amazon.com/Caregivers-Path-Compassionate-Decision-Making/dp/1608320413/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_2

Free Preview Teleclass …

Learn how to:

• Discover an oasis of inner peace
• Develop balance in your day
• Renew, rebuild and restore your energy.
   

Self Care for Caregivers
Energy Tools to Release Stress and Prevent Burnout
Free Preview Teleclass …
Date: Monday September 20th, 2010
Time: 8:00pm – 9:00pm EDT

Caregiver stress is a major factor for individuals, families and society. The complexity of the role, the magnitude of competing needs, the conflicting emotions and the sheer physical drains of caregiving put caregivers at high risk for stress-related issues and burnout. If you are a caregiver, this teleclass, led by Karen Kallie and Peg Donahue, is for you!

Learn how to:
Discover an oasis of inner peace
Develop balance in your day
Renew, rebuild and restore your energy

 
This class is a preview of an 8 week teleclass program that begins September 27th, 2010
 
To register for this call, click here.  http://www.livingenergyworks.com/caregiver.htm

You’ll receive the phone number when you register and we will email you a reminder the day of the call.
 
Please pass this information along to anyone who may benefit from it.
 
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Take some time to ground and balance your energy every day!

What does synchronicity got to do with caregiving? Join us tomorrow, Monday, August 23, 2010 and find out!