There are many misconceptions when it comes to caregiving. Some say that it is the most draining work, while others say that it sucks all the motivation in you. Perhaps they haven’t tried to look on the other side of things where everything about caregiving is better and brighter. Being a caregiver can bring you the best of both worlds. You can see it in the memoir One Caregiver’s Journey, where time and situation made Eleanor Gaccetta a sole caregiver for a loved one.
The positive effects of caregiving is frequently appreciated and gazed upon. It could be because the public only sees the toughness of the job. But let us remove all the negativities that come along caregiving and feature the brighter side of the job. Listed below are the positive impacts of caregiving that you should know.
Helps you become a better person
Personal growth is always necessary. No matter where you are in the world, growing as a person should always be in your bucket list. You probably are drowned with all the sorrows and agony of the job, but can you recall the time when you have wished for it the most? The more you strive to do better, the more you allow yourself to grow in the middle of the chaos. But sometimes you cannot notice the growth; it is because of being too focused on the work. All you need to do is to trust the process and appreciate the results. Who know how big of a development caregiving brings to your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health?
Makes you consider the situation of others
Being considerate is a skill that needs constant development. It is not something that is given to you from birth. Instead, it is something that you learn along the way. Becoming a considerate and understanding person is one tough job, but you really need to be one in order to deal with life and caregiving. The longer you become a caregiver, the more you harness your ability to consider the situation of others. You see, not everyone is taking the same path. Some has gone through unfortunate events, making them unable to function and move normally. That is why caregivers are there to provide the care and assistance that people need. In return, caregivers are being molded into a person that is understanding and considerate.
Improves your problem-solving and creative thinking skills
Who has ever thought that caregiving can enhance two of the most essential skills a person must possess? The work of a caregiver is never easy. There are a lot of bumps in the road that will either make or break your career. There are even those challenges that impact your mental health. But when you strive to do better, you can get a clearer view of the situation. The more problems come to you, to more solutions you can generate. All you need to do is face the problem and create relevant solutions. Do not dodge the ball of concerns, because it will only prolong your agony. Moreover, creative thinking is pretty essential. It is the ability that helps you create better solutions, engineer better plans, and improve tough situations. So, who said caregiving is not beneficial at all?
Ignites your compassion and empathy
There are people that don’t know what compassion and empathy really means. There are also those that cannot easily identify situations where the two aspects are needed. For better understanding, compassion refers to the feeling of concern towards the agony, pain, and mishaps of a person. Empathy, on the other hand, pertains to the skill of comprehending and sharing the emotions of other people. These two nouns are definitely hard to execute but are the most needed today. When you become a caregiver, you will start to become compassionate and empathetic. It is because you can see the daily struggles and hardships that the patient goes through. It will create an unfamiliar feeling within you that will slowly make you not just understand the situation but to feel what he is feeling. How wonderful it is to be able to help someone in need while not expecting anything in return.
Alex Writes 