My wife and I care for my parents in our home.
Dad passed away in early 2022.
Mom turned 87 last month, broke her second hip, and has #dementia.
Besides dealing with the non-sensical conversations, the unearned insults, and the hands-on hygiene care that comes with being bedridden,
If you’re not careful, elderly parent care can rattle your confidence and make you feel like a mediocre businessperson.
Here’s how I avoid going into a mental spiral: How I think determines how I feel and behave.
Over the last few weeks and because of my elder care responsibilities, I have:
- rescheduled appointments more than once with a hot prospect,
- missed phone calls from existing clients and prospects, and
- failed to hit my business development metrics to ensure a stable business pipeline.
These are the “shit happens.”
Because I am a high achiever, I measure my worth by results – an irrational thought.
I have thoughts about those ‘failures’ and experience emotions based on those thoughts.
I respond to those thoughts and feelings with behaviors – getting angry with myself or barking back to my spouse or kids – another big mistake.
I choose to lap swim or go hiking.
I use three rational questions to get out of my irrational loop:
- Is my thought based on fact?
- Does my thought help me achieve my goals?
- Does my thought help me feel the way I want to feel?
Two out of three “no’s” means you are irrational.
There is nothing wrong with using this cognitive behavioral therapy (#CBT) technique multiple times daily.
How do you keep yourself in check when shit happens? Drop it in the comments!
Want to watch a funny story? Here’s more about an experience with dementia I had with my parents:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFkUcXI4nQk
If you enjoyed it, like and subscribe to my channel.
