What Will They Think?
Peter Rosenberger
"Family caregiver in crisis? With 4 decades of experience through a medical nightmare, I'll point you to safety where you can catch your breath, regroup, and forge a healthier path for YOU!"
From: A MINUTE FOR CAREGIVERS- When Every Day Feels Like Monday
How often have we, as caregivers, second-guessed our decisions based on what others may think? While vacillating usually has roots in our insecurities, opinions from others can also contribute to our anxiety.
Sometimes, we even torture ourselves with how an impaired loved one will (or would) judge us.
Far from the wisdom of seeking wise counsel, fretting over others' opinions is an unproductive path that leads to misery. Public opinion can be a cruel taskmaster.
A good rule of thumb for caregivers is to assign value to someone’s opinion in equal proportion to the amount of help they provide. Caregivers certainly benefit from the insights of health professionals, clergy, and other trusted sources. Still, a good practice is to weigh “drive-by” caregiving opinions against the source and amount of assistance offered.
Our loved ones and ourselves benefit when we make informed decisions rather than adjust course due to fear of what others may think—what others think is none of our business.
One man with conviction will overwhelm a hundred who have only opinions. —Winston Churchill