"The notion that our feelings are some kind of sacred cow that merits special honor is one of the greatest embarrassments of the self-help movement. If expressing your feelings generally makes you or other people feel worse -- doing harm -- try thinking about feelings as teachers, rather than as judges about how the world is treating you." Dr. Joan Borysenko.
Feelings are important; neither good nor bad - social skills curriculums teach; and that might very well be true. But, as Dr. Borysenko points out, acting on or expressing our feelings can cause harm to ourselves and others. As dementia caregivers we probably have many feelings - self pity, overwhelmed, anxious, contentment - among others; and these feelings can teach us how we are doing -- a very important service. We don't have to speak our feelings or act them out, but they can be guides for us on how well we are handling life and the role of caregiver. What do your feelings tell you today?
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