FEBRUARY 2026 Newsletter - SELF-DISCOVERY: Reflecting on Our Journeys
FEBRUARY 2026 Newsletter - SELF-DISCOVERY: Reflecting on Our Journeys

FEBRUARY THEME: Self-Discovery

“Finding oneself is a journey, not a destination.” — Unknown

In January, we discussed the power of setting intentions for who we want to be. Now at the end of February, we are well into our personal journeys of self-discovery. Some of us may be finding our paths as straightforward as we had hoped while others of us may be feeling challenged by the unexpected directions our roads are taking us. Wherever you may be on your journey, now is a great moment to pause and reflect.

As the quote states above, self-discovery is about the journey, not the destination. How have you grown in the last two months? Where do you hope to improve? Who has supported you? By taking a break to reflect, we can recognize our own inner strengths and treat ourselves with the self-compassion we need. 

 TOOLS FOR SELF-DISCOVERY

  1. Be Compassionate Toward Yourself. While this is often easier said than done, remember that there are MANY ways to be compassionate toward yourself. Check out this toolkit for some suggestions!

  2. Look for Joy in Your Life. Acknowledging joy in your life does not mean ignoring your pain or sadness. Rather, finding joy can mean recognizing the small and big things that boost your soul and encourage you to keep going even during challenging times.

  3. Identify Your Strengths. We all have strengths that motivate us and help us through difficult dilemmas, but identifying them can be tricky. Sometimes just starting with the activities you enjoy or what others have complimented you on can be a good start.

Remember, you got this! Best wishes as you journey on! 💙 

Check out the complete February 2026 Newsletter focused on Self-Discovery here.

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerJoy, joy, Micro-Joy, Finding Joy, What Brings You Joy?, Strength Amidst Adversity, Strength, Strengths, Self-Compassion
Give Yourself Permission for Self-Compassion
Give Yourself Permission for Self-Compassion

“With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend.”

~ Dr. Kristin Neff

As caregivers, if there’s anything we’re really good at, it’s providing care to others. Then, why is it so hard to care for ourselves, too? We’re often hard on ourselves—beating ourselves up with self-doubt, self-blame, negative self-talk, and could-have–should-have thoughts.

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerSelf-Compassion
Strength with a Purpose
Strength with a Purpose

“When you know your strengths, you know where you can be strong on purpose.”

— Marcus Buckingham

Caregiving is hard, but none of us comes to this journey empty-handed. We bring skills, values, and inner resources that help us navigate our challenges and achieve our goals. Identifying those strengths is part of self-discovery. When we slow down enough to understand who we are beneath our responsibilities, we gain clarity about what sustains us and what drains us. This knowledge helps us shift from surviving each day to caring with intention.

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Self-DiscoveryKristi HornerStrength Amidst Adversity, Strength, Strengths, Identifying Your Strengths
JANUARY 2026 Newsletter - SETTING INTENTIONS: Embarking on Our Personal Journeys
JANUARY 2026 Newsletter - SETTING INTENTIONS: Embarking on Our Personal Journeys

JANUARY THEME: Setting Intentions

“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands — your own.”  ~ Mark Victor Hansen

The beginning of the year often comes with exhilaration as we make bold plans to establish new habits, renew promises to ourselves, and look for areas for growth. But even as the possibilities excite us, fear may shadow us as we worry about what challenges this new year may hold and whether or not we are up to the task to meet them. As caregivers, we know all too well how quickly change occurs.

This is why we start with setting intentions. The simple act of establishing clearly what we will do this year can help guide us to our values and the actions we can take to realize them. We can manage our expectations while staying open-minded to the opportunities that come our way. By using "I will" statements rather than "I want" or "I won't" phrases, we can shape our intentions with the strengths we already have and desire to build, and, as a result, guide our decision-making and behavior to align with our goals.

3 TOOLS FOR SETTING INTENTIONS

  1. Find Your Inner Peace. Start with the person you are in this moment. Remind yourself of who you are, what you value, and how you can leverage your strengths.

  2. Remember, You Have the Power to Design Your Own Life. You get to decide what your life becomes! Reflect on your values and strengths to see what areas you would like to focus on this year.

  3. Practice Self-Compassion. Obstacles are bound to happen! Be gentle with yourself and remember that you are doing everything you can in this moment with the knowledge and resources you have. Progress is the goal, not perfection. You got this!

Check out the complete January 2026 Newsletter focused on Setting Intentions here.

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Setting IntentionsKristi HornerMapping Your Journey, Managing Expectations, Open-Mindedness
Stability Doesn’t Mean Rigidity
Stability Doesn’t Mean Rigidity

“Flexibility is the key to stability.” — John Wooden

Caregiving often requires stability in the middle of uncertainty. Many of us believe that stability means holding firm—sticking to routines, pushing through exhaustion, and keeping everything from falling apart. But stability also requires flexibility, as John Wooden reminds us in the quote above, and flexibility stems from open-mindedness.

For caregivers, open-mindedness isn’t about giving up standards or caring less. It’s about adapting in ways that help us stay grounded over the long haul. When we allow ourselves to be flexible, we reduce the pressure to have everything figured out and make room for a stability that is realistic, humane, and sustainable.

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Setting IntentionsKristi HornerOpen-Mindedness
Managing Through the Messiness
Managing Through the Messiness

“If I pretend to myself that I’m different from the way I truly am, I’m going to make choices that won’t make me happy.” — Gretchen Rubin

I’ve written about Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Four Tendencies, before. After reading it a few years ago, I just knew we had to add “managing expectations” as one of the topics in our curriculum! Besides healthy boundaries and navigating guilt and shame, I’d say managing expectations is one of the things we talk about most with caregivers.

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Setting IntentionsKristi HornerManaging Expectations
The Process of Being and Becoming
The Process of Being and Becoming

“We don’t learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience.” — John Dewey

I don’t know about you, but I have a complicated relationship with New Year’s resolutions. I don’t subscribe to the “New Year—New YOU” mantra. Here at Courage to Caregivers, as we begin our 8th year of providing programs to support unpaid family caregivers and working to prevent caregiver burnout, I am reflecting on all of the practices I have created for myself. One of those is setting intentions, which is our theme for January. Setting intentions for yourself is all about focusing on WHO you want to BE instead of WHAT you want to DO. After all, we’re human beings, not human doers. Being is at the heart of self-care.

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Setting IntentionsKristi HornerMapping Your Journey
DECEMBER 2025 Newsletter - OUTLOOK: The Key to Looking Out is Looking In
DECEMBER 2025 Newsletter - OUTLOOK: The Key to Looking Out is Looking In

“It's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.” - Betty White 

How would you describe your outlook on life? Hopeful? Cautious? Fluid? Static? Taking the time to understand our outlooks can help us better understand how we react to the various people, situations, and challenges we face in our lives. Our outlooks can have powerful impacts on the decisions we make. Do we take advantage of an opportunity that comes our way or do we let it pass? How much do we believe in our own inner strengths and our abilities to find support?

Cambridge Dictionary defines OUTLOOK as "a person's way of understanding and thinking about something." When we have a hopeful outlook, we are able to feel motivated to learn and improve. When we are open-minded, we feel capable of turning possibilities into realities. While simply changing our outlooks will not erase all of the barriers we face in life, it can help guide us to certain actions and energize us to persevere and obtain the support we need.

3 TOOLS TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY OUTLOOK

  1. Have a hope-centered mindset.Hope reminds us of our inner strengths and ability to enact change. As the world shifts around us, our hope can also wax and wane, but remember that hope is not a finite resource. We can always find hope in ourselves and in our surrounding environments and communities.

  2. Cultivate inner peace. Our days can be filled with chaos and it is easy to feel as if we have no control over our own lives. However, by taking the time, even if it's only five minutes, to find our inner calm, we can feel more prepared to tackle the challenges we face.

  3. Embrace possibility thinking. By engaging with possibilities, we can allow ourselves to recognize what we want to happen in our lives. Once we recognize what we want, we can then understand the steps we have to take to make those wishes come true.

Check out the complete December 2025 Newsletter focused on Outlook here.

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OutlookKristi HornerInner Calm, Inner Peace, Opportunity, Possibility, Hope, Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice: A Time for Caregivers to Pause, Reflect, and Begin Again
The Winter Solstice: A Time for Caregivers to Pause, Reflect, and Begin Again

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” — Rumi

For unpaid family caregivers, the winter solstice often feels less like a calendar event and more like a mirror. It is the longest night of the year—a season that echoes the exhaustion, isolation, and emotional weight that caregiving can bring. Rather than asking us to push through or “stay positive,” the solstice offers something caregivers rarely receive: permission to pause (especially at this hectic time of year). It invites us to acknowledge the darkness honestly, without judgment, and to honor all we have done to simply keep showing up.

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OutlookKristi HornerWinter Solstice
When One Door Closes, Another Opportunity Opens
When One Door Closes, Another Opportunity Opens

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” — Albert Einstein

Like you, I am no stranger to challenges. I have faced many difficulties throughout my life. I have learned that I have the choice to look at these times in my life as challenges or opportunities. Just like learning from my mistakes, I try to learn what I can during times of personal or professional distress.

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OutlookKristi HornerOpportunity, Possibility
A Calm Center Is the Foundation of Courage
A Calm Center Is the Foundation of Courage

“Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” — Unknown

In an increasingly uncertain and turbulent world, cultivating inner calm has become essential for staying grounded and connected to what truly matters. Experts across psychology, spirituality, and personal growth emphasize that inner calm begins with turning inward—allowing ourselves to gently acknowledge our fears, vulnerabilities, and emotional divides. As Tara Brach explains, when we courageously make space for our own difficult feelings with kindness and presence, we strengthen our ability to extend compassion to others. This inner tenderness becomes the foundation for greater peace, intention, and connection, helping us navigate anxiety, conflict, and the weight of the world with clarity and resilience.

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OutlookKristi HornerInner Calm, Inner Peace
Hope Is a Skill
Hope Is a Skill

“Once you choose hope, anything is possible.” — Christopher Reeve

Overall, I am a very hope-filled person. Yet, there have been times when I haven’t always been able to find hope. I wouldn’t say I was hopeless, but I have supported loved ones who were. When providing mental and emotional support for my brother who lived with anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as suicidal ideation, I believed he had given up on hope. As he gradually lost hope, I felt hope slipping away for me, too. So much that when our family created our walk team for the local suicide prevention organizations we support, we named ourselves the “Hope Seekers.”

I found my way back to hope. It was a conscious choice—a mindset—and something I have worked on for many years. I have since studied the science behind hope, and what I’ve discovered is nothing short of inspiring.

Hope isn’t just a feel-good emotion, it’s a powerful, measurable driver of well-being. Two large research efforts, including a 14-year study of 25,000 adults, found that people with high levels of hope experience better health, stronger relationships, greater resilience, and improved economic, educational, and employment outcomes. Unlike optimism, which is simply believing things will get better, hope reflects determination, agency, and the ability to take action. Hopeful individuals are less affected by negative life events, adapt more quickly, and feel a greater sense of meaning in life. Researchers emphasize that hope is a skill that can be developed at any age and may be one of the strongest predictors of long-term fulfillment, longevity, and overall quality of life.

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OutlookKristi HornerHope
NOVEMBER 2025 Newsletter - Caring with Collaboration: The Power of Working Together
NOVEMBER 2025 Newsletter - Caring with Collaboration: The Power of Working Together

“One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone.”

- Shannon L. Adler

We can't go through life without collaboration. Whether we're listening to and acting on our loved one's needs or scheduling a meetup with friends, we are constantly collaborating with those around us. However, as caregivers, opening ourselves up to collaboration can feel particularly complicated. It's not uncommon to find ourselves feeling isolated as we wonder if our peers and coworkers can understand our journeys and as we feel pressured to take on our responsibilities alone. We may even question whether or not we have the right to tell our stories as it is our loved one's stories of living with mental illness and other chronic or serious illnesses.

At Courage to Caregivers, we make it clear that you are not alone. When we recognize and honor the strengths and wisdom of both the people around us and ourselves and become open to collaboration, we are able to work together to care for not just our loved ones but also ourselves. We are much stronger together than we are alone.

3 TOOLS FOR COLLABORATION

  1. Practice Active Listening - By listening to understand rather than to respond, we can better connect with those around us.

  2. Be Empathetic - By feeling "with" others rather than "for," we can more strongly understand where people are coming from.

  3. Ask for What You Need - By being specific about what we need from the people who want to be there for us, we can help others in supporting ourselves.

Check out the complete November 2025 Newsletter focused on Collaboration here.

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CollaborationKristi HornerManaging Perceptions, Compare, Compare and Despair, Gratitude
Coping with Grief and Loss at the Holidays
Coping with Grief and Loss at the Holidays

“During your time of grief, the very rituals of the holidays can help you survive them.” ~ Alan Wolfelt

While we covered grief and loss as our topic way back in April (you can search what I’ve shared about grief over the years on our blog here), I wanted to share that we lost our 92-year-old-Dad last week, and one of the ways I process my grief and loss is through writing and sharing my story. It also feels like a good time to share some thoughts around coping with grief and loss at the holidays - for me, and perhaps for you, too? Even if you haven’t lost someone you love physically, as caregivers we face complicated grief and ambiguous loss in our caring every day. 

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OutlookKristi HornerGrief, Loss, Hope, Holidays
Gratitude Can Help You Carry the Load
Gratitude Can Help You Carry the Load

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” 

~ Melody Beattie

For unpaid family caregivers, our days can be filled with both deep love and deep exhaustion. While it’s easy to focus on what’s hard or what we wish were different, cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help us protect our emotional and mental well-being.

Gratitude is a powerful tool—it shifts our focus from what’s missing to what’s meaningful, reducing stress, improving mood, and strengthening resilience. When we take even a moment to acknowledge micro-joys—such as a kind word, a shared laugh, a peaceful breath—we remind ourselves that hope and healing still exist within the challenges.

Gratitude doesn’t ignore the difficulties of caregiving; it transforms how we carry them. When we practice noticing what’s good, we create space for peace, connection, and balance. It helps us respond to our loved ones with more patience and compassion while nurturing our own sense of purpose. Every day may not be easy, but every day offers something to be thankful for—and that gratitude becomes one of our strongest protective factors against burnout. 

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CollaborationKristi HornerGratitude
When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned
When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

“Stay in your own lane. Comparison kills creativity and joy.” ~ Brené Brown

Just a few weeks ago I wrote about progress over perfection and that one of my loved ones that I provide care for was having a hard time accepting their lack of mobility. We are still encouraging micro-steps as progress and try to celebrate small wins. I think looking at progress, no matter how small, instead of perfection, pairs nicely with this week’s topic of compare and despair.

“Compare and despair” thinking often brings feelings of jealousy and envy—emotions that drain our energy and joy. We can choose a different path by practicing self-compassion and remembering that we are each unique, imperfect, and still growing—perfectly imperfect perpetual works in progress. When we stop trying to be someone else and focus on nurturing our own strengths, we give ourselves permission to bloom exactly where we are planted.

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CollaborationKristi HornerCompare, Compare and Despair
Is It Time to Reframe Your Story?
Is It Time to Reframe Your Story?

“We see the world, not as it is, but as we are—or as we are conditioned to see it.” ~ Stephen R. Covey

As caregivers, our minds are constantly narrating—filling in gaps when things feel uncertain or overwhelming. Sometimes that story sounds like, “I’m not doing enough,” or “No one notices how hard I’m trying.” But when we pause and ask, “What story am I telling myself?” we give ourselves the power to step back and see the situation more clearly.

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CollaborationKristi HornerManaging Perceptions
OCTOBER 2025 Newsletter: Finding the Courage Within Us
OCTOBER 2025 Newsletter: Finding the Courage Within Us

“Bravery is being unafraid of something other people are afraid of. Courage is being afraid, but strong enough to do it anyway.” ― Taylor Jenkins Reid, Atmosphere 

It's no secret that the world can be scary. Whether our fears stem from issues on the global and national scale or from the seemingly little troubles in our days, we all know what it feels like to be afraid. So how can we have courage in a world that is frightening? As Taylor Jenkins Reid explores in her novel Atmosphere, courage does not have to mean the absence of fear. In fact, being courageous can be directly tied to our fear. 

To be courageous, we have to first recognize a situation as calling the need for courage and that means acknowledging our fears. We can accept our fears of embarrassment and imperfection while also understanding that mistakes are opportunities for growth. It's okay to feel scared to say "no" to an invitation that does not fit our values or needs while simultaneously recognizing the importance of setting healthy boundaries. Courage is not the absence of our fears, but being able to live with them.

3 TOOLS TO DEVELOP COURAGE:

  1. Notice and Accept Your Thoughts and Emotions - It is natural to feel scared, stressed, and overwhelmed at times. Life is hard and unexpected situations and events occur! There is no shame in experiencing emotions. What matters is what we do with them.

  2. Embrace Your Fears and Share with Others - Recognize which of your fears are legitimate and which are unfounded. Remember, you are NOT alone. Find your community of support. Join our group coaching here!

  3. Own Your Power and Choose Courage - Courage is something we can learn. Take stock of your strengths and room for growth and courageously take action. You got this!

Check out our October Newsletter focused on Courage here.

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CourageKristi HornerStrength Amidst Adversity, Strength, Just Say No, Learn to Say NO, Learning From Mistakes, Learn From Mistakes, Progress Over Perfection
Focus on a Great “Yes” by Learning to Say “No”
Focus on a Great “Yes” by Learning to Say “No”

“No is a complete sentence.” ~ Anne Lamott

As unpaid family caregivers, we often feel pressure to explain ourselves when we set boundaries or say no. But Anne Lamott’s words remind us that “No is a complete sentence.” We don’t need to justify saying no to protect our energy or take care of our own well-being. 

WHY is it SO hard to say NO? For caregivers, sometimes it’s out of fear of conflict—we worry that setting a boundary will create tension with someone else. Other times, it’s the fear of losing love—we want to be agreeable so others won’t pull away or reject us. And often, we simply don’t want to hurt or disappoint others, even if that means saying yes to something that drains or hurts us instead. 

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CourageKristi HornerJust Say No, Learn to Say NO