192. How to Thrive in the Sandwich Generation

The Mindful Healers Podcast with Dr. Jessie Mahoney and Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang

Are you sometimes overwhelmed and depleted by the demands of caregiving for both your parents and your children? Does caregiving wear you down or cause stress and anxiety?

Do you think YOU have to do it all?

The inspiration for this podcast is the very full plate that we have both been living as caregivers for both aging parents and our own children.

We invite you to approach this abundance of caregiving with love, self-compassion, mindfulness and intention. If you can, you will likely find much more spaciousness and ease.

Some recommendations we share in this episode:

Notice stories of time scarcity and uncomfortable emotions. When difficult emotions and body sensations arise, notice them. Feeling frazzled, rushed, and unsettled is reasonable, maybe even expected.

Accept and allow discomfort and uncomfortable. Accept and allow busy, unmet expectations, conflicting emotions, and different opinions. Accept and don’t like this season of abundant caregiving. Resisting the reality of the situation is expensive emotionally and energetically.

Stay out of judgment. Rather than blaming yourself, or any of your loved ones, simply acknowledge the challenges of a complex situation and a full life.

Take a pause. Pause and breathe. Pause and be present. Pause and take a break.

Practice kindness and self-compassion. What would kindness do? What would love do?

Care for yourself as well. Acknowledge and prioritize your own well-being and the potential need for blank space. Even though physicians are experts at caregiving, we also have human needs.

Ask for help. Getting help helps. Enlist other family members and give yourself permission to not be THE ONE to do it all. Step out of, self sacrifice, martyrdom, and toxic independence.

Connect with gratitude for having an abundance of loved ones of all ages, resources, knowledge, and skills.

Think generously. Assume good intent. Tell loving stories. Practice loving amusement.

Stay out of over-responsibility, perfectionism, and people-pleasing.

Practice boundaries from a place of love.

Prioritize yourself and your human needs first. No one else will.

Move beyond consuming this amazing podcast.

True change happens when you work with us - virtually and/or in person.

Coach with Jessie - 1:1, in topic-focused small groups, or at a retreat. www.jessiemahoneymd.com

Work with both of us in person at The Mindful Healers Annual Retreat www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats

Or retreat with Jessie at Sagrada or Pie Ranch. While it might seem like you don't have time for a retreat. You just might not have time not to retreat. The benefits can be lifesaving.

Hire one or both of us to speak or lead a workshop on any topic covered in the Mindful Healers Podcast. We also create team retreats, teach yoga, and offer experiential mindfulness for teams, groups, grand rounds, institutions, and conferences.

www.jessiemahoneymd.com/mindful-healers-podcast

www.awakenbreath.org

www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking

*Nothing shared in the Mindful Healers Podcast is medical advice.

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