The Question of Best

How do we manage when others could do better?

This week, I asked about the impact of your caregiving experience on your family relationships. A presentation I gave this week (Healing Family Rifts) during our Healing After the Holidays event inspired our question.

I first presented “Healing Family Rifts” about 13 years ago. The original presentation included the belief I held that I learned in life coach training 17 years ago: Everyone is doing their best.

I now think differently about this belief. I now belief we will encounter others at their worst which is why we must be at our best.

Our family members may show us their worst because of their denial about a caree’s health declines or because they value their own inheritance over our caree’s well-being. Because we experience their worst, we must make sure we do what we can to be our best. We must have the energy to set boundaries and to clearly voice our concerns and goals. We must have the energy to calmly communicate so our conversations remain productive.

For me, staying my best means I must sleep well, take daily walks and eat healthy foods. I also must forgive myself for my imperfections, which then allows me to use my energy more effectively.

How about you? How do you stay your best?

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