Along with practical advice about how to handle basic caregiving duties, our book Caregiver Revolution gives numerous easy ways to join caregiving work with the practice of mindfulness. It introduces the concept of mindfulness and gives enjoyable ways to bring the practice to one’s caregiving tasks.
Remember, the Caregiver Revolution is all about transforming your caregiving work into a positive life affirming process.
In general I like this website, thecancerbomb.com, and so I am going to recommend it. It has a lot of tips and very practical information for end of life caregiving. That said, this site is full of ads!
So travel at your own risk. I don’t see any ads being harmful, they just make the site hard to navigate. Articles DO appear…eventually, later on down the page and they are worth it. Let me know what you think!
Choose a word, a sound, a prayer, or a phrase in your own belief system. Even a simple word will do: “one,” “peace,” “calm,” “All is one,” or choose a visualization – a rose, cross, light, sacred object. Now, make sure the body is free of tension. Use a process of mental repetition to go through the body: “I am relaxing the feet, I am relaxing the feet, the feet are now completely relaxed.” Go up the legs, through the trunk, arms, shoulders and face. Now, when relaxed, on the in-breath and again on the the out-breath, inwardly or quietly say your word or phrase or do your visualization. When you notice a different thought has come to mind, don’t get stressed about it just let it go and come back to your repetition. Do this for 3 to 5 minutes, and then close with a deep breath and simple closing statement, ie “Thank you,” “Peace,” “Shalom.” This is very effective!!
This is from our pamphlet: 10 Steps to Beat Caregiver Stress
Drawings by Lin Larsen
Don’t allow yourself to drift off or to fall asleep. Repeat this instruction with me and guide your thoughts along this path:
“I take refuge in the Clear Light.
I take refuge in the angel of mercy and compassion.
I take refuge in the Way of the Teaching.
I take refuge in the company of evolved Spiritual Souls.”
Page 82 – Lazy Man’s Guide to Death and Dying by EJ Gold
This was shared by a friend on Facebook today and I thought it would serve as a nice reminder of how simple a “spiritual practice” can be:
“Being in the present is so important in Buddhism. It is the core strategy of Buddhism to do whatever it takes to keep the mind present, to have ones mind from going astray. Every single method that exists in Buddhism is for that result. It could be from just a simple sitting meditation to the tantric methods of visualisation, ritual and mantra.” From Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. Image courtesy of Spirit Rock
