"The heart of all creativity is the awakening and flowering of individuality." John O'Donohue
O'Donohue's language can be easily adapted to loving care. The heart of healing others depends upon our ability to awaken our individual gifts. We need to engage the Love that flows through us, not simply copy the approaches dictated by others or administer the cold rules of protocols.
Every caregiver is taught a set of skills that support effective physical treatment. But, once pills have been given to treat a digestive disorder, or surgery has been administered to remove a diseased gall bladder, or counseling has been offered to a victim of violence, what else can caregiver's do?
Patients and special caregivers know the answer to this. Even though it's part of the treatment protocol, it's not much comfort to a rape victim to have a doctor read her a set of warnings about sexually transmitted diseases and then leave the room. The gift of healing flows from the caregiver's ability to engage his or her individual gifts of Love.
The power of caregiver presence is chronically underestimated. The more technology that arrives, the more the human role seems to diminish. A right balance must be restored.
Obviously, only humans can engage loving relationships of the kind that help those who suffer. Our individual humanity is affirmed when we engage it to help heal need.
How do you transcend rules to engage your gifts of healing?
-Erie Chapman
With any form of support, I believe emotional caring should also be included. As you state above, one can offer structured protocols (responses) to meet a person's circumstances, however love and caring must be incorporated to ensure all considerations for a person's healing.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1369037609 | October 28, 2009 at 01:29 PM
Generally, rules guide…but do not dictate. Trust with a listening heart, Love will guide…but will not control.
I say, I am not an expert… let’s ask Love… and begin anew.
Posted by: ~liz Wessel | October 28, 2009 at 08:25 PM
"What else can caregiver's do?"
After reading this posting I started thinking about the busy telemetry unit I work on. Almost every shift I hear nurses huffing and puffing that the patient will not leave them alone. I also felt this way for many years until I began placing myself in the patient's shoes and treating them as though I would want to be treated. Once I began going beyond just taking the vital signs and giving the patient their medications I started feeling excited to come to work the next day. I have learned that just asking a patient if they would like another blanket makes a big difference in caring for a patient. Even taking the time to shampoo a patients hair has left my patients in tears of joy. This posting not only made me think of what else I can do as a caregiver, but reminded me that our presence really is underestimated and that we do have the power to make a big difference in the life of another human being.
Thank you,
Marianna Nemirovskyg
Posted by: Marianna | November 01, 2009 at 07:19 PM