Today’s blog is the second of a series of four entries that treat a matter that most older adults eventually face: How will we live well when that becomes more difficult or impossible?)
It might help us to welcome future living arrangements if we started to reframe our ways of thinking—maybe with other folks helping us. See how these examples might fit you….
Move from loss of control to keeping control.
Once we make a decision to relocate into a safer, manageable situation, we’ll take the first step in regaining control of the rest of our life.
Change our mindsets from fear, clinging or worry to confidence.
Fear of any kind doesn’t do any good. Instead, we can think where in a new situation we could become confident and assured again.
Think about gain instead of loss.
We can name, count or describe what good things we might add to our lives by heading towards a different physical setting.
Embrace what’s new instead of thinking only about leaving what’s familiar.
We can reminisce gratefully about the times when we were eager about what was ahead—how it would probably be better than what we left behind.
Switch out fragile independence for healthy interdependence.
If “being on your own” isn’t working for us, think how it might feel to be living among good folks who are all taking care of each other. How good it would be not to be alone and vulnerable—known and loved for who we are!
Imagine lightening up instead of being burdened by almost everything.
What if a change in our living arrangements was easier on our bodies and minds? What if what’s weighing us down was mostly gone?
To summarize: We can think positively about all this—anticipating what’s good, relying on what we know and trust about our best selves. And we can consider these matters as blessings God is still waiting to give us!
(Next time: Next steps….)
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