“Change your thoughts and you change your world.” Norman Vincent Peale

There is no amount of preaching that I can do to impress you with how important this concept is.  Your world is that space that immediately surrounds you.  People can escape their world by reading thrilling novels, watching soap operas, listening to the news or any number of things.

The point is that if you allow your world to be limited by your feelings of sadness or frustration, sadness and frustration will continue.  When you open your mind to look for the positive, you allow change to enter your world.

Some people love to be negative, well maybe they don’t actually love it but they sure perpetuate it!  Why is that?  I think the answer is different for each person.  What I have found in my experience is that being negative is secure.  It is comfortable.  It reassures you that you have an answer to all of the bad stuff that is happening to you. 

When you choose to let some of that go, knowing you don’t want to let it all go at once…that is too scary J… you open yourself up to an unknown feeling.  If you can’t run back to what was secure, what do you use to fill up that void?

Start with picturing yourself in a peaceful surrounding.  Reassure yourself that the peace you are looking for is possible.  When you are called to “action” by the person you care for, and you feel knots in your stomach because in your mind the tape that plays is, “here we go again,” make up something funny.  Do it like this:

Patient:  “Hurry up and come here, I need you to get me ________ (fill in the blank)”

You:  (in your head)…Isn’t that sweet, they need me…and smile to yourself when you say that.

If you can lower your anxiety level when those moments occur, you will be on your way to developing a greater sense of calm. 

Remember that this takes time.  Find a smile.  Let’s decide how to support you!  Join the Sallycares.com Family today!  We look forward to hearing from you! “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally

Wake up with the realization that You are better than your circumstances!

It is easy to let our problems consume us. If we focus on our problems we become that focus. If we change our focus we open ourselves up to learn how to think differently. You have all the power!  

Your situation does not define who you are. How you handle the challenges that come your way, defines who you are. I have heard that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle tangled Christmas lights. Do you know of anything that causes you more grief than tangled Christmas lights, when you finally found the energy to put them up?

That is because Christmas lights are small (usually), and the small stuff really can bug you. I laugh when I see the books about not sweating the small stuff…and it is a very important concept, but the small, daily, obnoxious stuff that we all deal with can overpower us if we let it.

We can’t let it happen. We have to believe that we have the power. We have to agree that we can make a tough situation lighter, and we have to believe it.

How we go about it, is not the same for everyone. But the human spirit is amazing. People are making lemonade out of lemons every day, and many times they don’t give themselves credit for it.

Listen, if you have a recipe to make lemonade out of lemons, when it comes to coping with a disease, a physical challenge, or managing the care of someone who has all of the above, let us know what your recipe is. I think Sallycares.com could make a recipe book of all of your stories, and we need to make that book!

There are too many people struggling out there with caregiving challenges. Problems can be managed well. I can tell you that your struggle is "not for nothing.” You have your story to tell, and we’re here to help you manage those challenges that are wearing you out! Contact Us!

         “Now, let’s get going” xo Sally

“When you open your mouth you let the world know who you are.” Les Brown

Don’t we all wish for perfection?  Wouldn’t it be amazing if every time we opened our mouth a kind or witty saying would spring forth and people would think we were just the nicest, brightest, sweetest person they ever knew?

Well, here we are back to reality and to my knowledge there has only been one Mother Teresa. It does not mean that we do not benefit from striving to do better each day.  In fact when we wake up each morning that is exactly what we should do.  We should STRIVE to be the best we can be.

Working at a goal doesn’t mean that we will achieve that goal in 24 hours.  It may take longer. A week.  A month. A year.  Who knows how long it will take?  The point is that you want to actively STRIVE to be better when dealing with your circumstances.  Actually you want to work at being better every day.

So remember this:  Whatever we say, that is what we are.  That is what people hear.  You are basically affirming to the world who you are- by what you say. 

Family members, co-workers, neighbors, your dog or cat, I don’t care who it is, look to you for your wisdom and caring.  They do not look for nor want to listen to negative comments, and develop a negative feeling about you!

Don’t give people anything less than your best.  You do not need to resort to negative comments.  That’s too easy.  Learning to change what comes out of your mouth - priceless!

Tell us how you are able to stay positive!  Let us know your thoughts through Contact Us.

Join Sallycares.com today and be part of the Sallycares.com Community!                                                       “Now, let’s get going” xo Sally

Teachers are everywhere. Not just in school. When you listen you learn about yourself and about the person who is talking. The person who is talking the loudest isn't necessarily the smartest. Learn to sift and apply what is right for your goal. That is what I know to be true for me.

People may try to convince you that your goal should be their goal. Don’t believe that. Both women and men often have a huge internal challenge when they need to allow themselves to step forward, when they feel that it is necessary to take the high road. Whether it is at work or at home.

Relationships can be tricky. You can be tricked into thinking that the relationship you are in is right for you. Remember two things: 1. If you have to hide a relationship, it isn’t worth it. 2. If you are being held back from your family and friends by the person who “loves” you, they don’t love you. They are insecure and want to control you. You are better than that. You are smarter than that. Don’t allow yourself to be treated poorly. You are amazing and you have the power. Believe that. “Now let’s get going.” xo Sally

You’ve got to Believe It to Be It!          

There are many people who believe that the best way to change YOUR perception of YOU, is to use self-affirmation.  That would be the process of focusing on your goal, your dream, your focus, and not allow negative thoughts to interfere with what you are trying to change.

Let’s use the example of a care partner named Susan, who is feeling tired and frustrated. A family member recently told her that she needed to do a better job of taking care of her husband, because he was developing stiffness in his joints from lack of exercise…and Susan was devastated. She had to admit that she was tired of the whole 24 hour caregiving situation, but she didn’t need any negative comments from family or friends. She was doing all that she felt she could do. 

Susan is tired, frustrated and feels very alone. She has gotten into a routine. Every day is the same, or at least it feels like it. She doesn’t feel like she has a life of her own. 

Here’s the challenge. Susan has to turn those thoughts around. She needs to believe that she has worth and that she is providing a service that has merit, purpose and that she is an amazing soul.

The problem is that Susan does not feel amazing. Well…Susan has to start telling herself that she IS amazing. Amazing for doing what she does each and every day. She has to learn to stop being angry with her circumstances. Life happens and we are not able to control the process, but we can impact the process. We can challenge the process with good thoughts and good energy and see how that changes us and our situation.

Tell us about your situation. Did you find a way to start believing in yourself again? How did you do it? Write on our Blog or send us an email through Contact Us! Be the light for someone else. We are all one in the Sallycares.com Community. “Now, let’s get going” xo Sally

“When you are young and healthy, it never occurs to you that in a single second your whole life could change.”Annette Funicello

Most of us don’t run around thinking that bad things are going to happen. Not on a daily basis anyway.  We have our rough times and then have some good times, and basically bounce between the good and the bad.  I think we would all agree that life is like that.  We know there are no guarantees and try to remain optimistic. 

When we are younger, we truly feel immortal.  Doubtful that what happened to someone else, would ever happen to us.  In fact we don’t think about life ever being different. 

As we age, we see more change happen.  Friends that we have had for years start to experience the complications that can happen in life. Disease, injuries, accidents and most of us are not prepared for that.  But is that something you can really prepare for?  I don’t believe you can. 

We have to keep in mind that life is always about change, and what we have to learn to do, is manage change when it occurs.  It is a skill to be able to look for the good in the bad.  It is even more of a skill to move past the bad, and realize that you might need help to maximize your ability to cope with what is happening to you or someone you love.

We cope with change through looking for the best way to manage what we have been given.  Some days we are better at it than others.  What you have to keep in mind is that you have the power to manage what you are dealing with right now. 

Your circumstances do not make you who you are, you do.  You are powerful and intend to pull through whatever you are dealing with. How do I know you can do it?  Because you CAN!  If you need help, send us a message through “Contact Us.” 

We are here to help you meet and exceed your goals!  “Now, let’s get going!”  xo Sally