At Zen Caregiving Project, we often hear how our courses offer not only practical tools but also deep emotional support for caregivers navigating the complexities of their roles. One caregiver recently shared her powerful experience with our Zen CAREgiving course. Nancy’s words speak for themselves and beautifully reflect what this work is all about:
“Since taking the Zen CAREgiving course, I have become more committed than ever before to going deeper in my mindfulness practice. In addition to prioritizing taking more time to meditate at the beginning and end of each day, I am noticing that when I begin to feel anxious and overwhelmed by all of the responsibilities of providing care for my client, her pets and her home, that I am able to calm myself by taking a moment to stop, follow my breath, and consciously notice physical sensations in my body. I love how this minimizes stress and brings me back to the present moment, so I can be more at ease and tuned in to the needs of my client.
I appreciated the emphasis on compassion, particularly as it relates to my ability to listen attentively when my client needs to share her experiences with me. I had previously judged negativity and complaining as reinforcing my client’s suffering. I have found myself stopping and giving her my focused attention when she needs to tell me of the ageism and elder abuse she has experienced in the hands of the medical community. I am actually feeling more compassionate, and I can see how important it is for her experience to be heard and validated.
This has helped me to be less stressed about the urgency to get things done when there is always to much to attend to.
I learned so much from listening to the other participants share their experiences of caregiving for family members and clients. I’m glad there is an ongoing support group available for us.
The course helped me become more aware of appropriate boundaries around not divulging things of a personal nature, and being firm about my end time, so that I can allow myself the time I need to rest and recover.
I have no doubt that I am a stronger and more compassionate assistant for my dear client as a result of participating in the Zen CAREgiving course. I am so grateful to have received this incredible support for myself in my role as caregiver.
These are not just caregiving skills; they are life skills for anyone navigating the ongoing journey of supporting another human being.”
Nancy Ray
Zen Caregiving Project
At Zen Caregiving Project, we believe that when caregivers are supported emotionally, they are empowered to provide more compassionate care. Through our free caregiver course, you can begin this journey feeling grounded, informed, and supported.
If you’re looking for practical caregiving skills, emotional tools, and a meaningful connection to your caregiving path, our courses are here for you.Visit ZenCaregiving.org today to enroll in a caregiver course and take your next step toward mindful, compassionate caregiving.
