By Roz Jones
Is inner conflict holding you back? When we struggle with inner conflict, it is basically a battle between our emotions and thoughts. If a situation doesn’t turn out how we expected, it can release feelings of anger, stress, fear, and frustration.
There are many types of inner conflict. You may know you need to set better boundaries as a caregiver, but you keep avoiding the difficult conversation. You may know you need to adopt a healthier diet but eating the foods you love is the only thing that gives you pleasure right now. Whatever the inner conflict is, it could be holding you back from a happy, healthy life. Below, discover 5 ways to address inner conflicts, in order to be a happier and more fulfilled caregiver.
(Access the original post by going to: The Caregiver Cafe)
- Identify and confront inner conflicts.
You’re going to find it hard to address your inner conflict if you aren’t fully aware of it. However, identifying and being aware of inner conflict isn’t always easy. After all, it is much easier to ignore confrontation and the things that make us uncomfortable.
The trouble is, when you ignore your inner conflicts, they simply get worse over time. So, start by writing down what you want and the things that are holding you back. Then, delve into your inner conflict and try to understand where it comes from. For example, is it coming from a place of fear or comfort? Often, we stay stuck in routines because it is our mind’s way of protecting us.
2.Balance your rationale and emotions.
To address inner conflict, you need to be able to balance rationale and emotion. If you tend to focus more on your emotional needs and desires, your rational thinking will be compromised. Similarly, if you were to focus only on being rational, your emotional needs would suffer. To make the best choices, learn how to balance reason and emotion.
- Avoid making rash decisions
When you are going through an emotional time, be sure not to make any rash decisions. Think about what is best for you, but also remember the impact your decisions will have on others.
It’s easy to make rash decisions when you are dealing with inner conflict. However, staying calm and really thinking things through is going to lead to the best decisions.
- Think about what you really want
What is it you really want? Often our inner conflict comes from not doing the things we desire. If you are trying to please everyone else, you are only going to end up feeling miserable. As caregivers, we often have a difficult time putting our needs before others. So, if you feel like you aren’t being true to yourself, take a step back. Think about what you truly want and then focus your energy on that.
- Practice meditation
Finally, meditation is a great way to address inner conflict. It gives you the peace and mental clarity to reflect on your life and opportunities for growth. It may take a while to get used to it, but you’ll find great beginner videos online to help.
As caregivers, we have to ensure we are deterring our inner conflict to practice self care, all while caring for others. These are just a few ways to deal with inner conflict. What are some of your inner conflicts and how do you cope?
(Access the original post by going to: The Caregiver Cafe)
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