Choose Strength
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."
~ Viktor E. Frankl
You have a power within you—to focus on challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities—to rise, to learn, and to find resilience. Caregivers can use this power to discover strength and wisdom through adversity, leaning into the hard moments to find new ways to adapt and overcome.
Although the weight of our responsibilities may feel overwhelming in those moments, we always have a choice to either let the stress hold us back or let the challenge make us stronger. Here's an affirmation to use when faced with such a choice:
🌟 “Each challenge I face is a chance to grow stronger.
I have the courage, wisdom, and resilience to keep moving forward.” 🌟
Viktor Frankl was a psychiatrist and neurologist who specialized in the treatment of suicidal patients. He also survived the Holocaust. I've always considered him as one of the strongest, most resilient people in history. He created "healing through meaning" psychotherapy. Inspired by his quote above, here are 3 Tools to Find Strength Amidst Adversity:
Focus on What Can Be Controlled: Adversity often brings circumstances outside of a caregiver’s control—like a loved one’s diagnosis or decline. Instead of expending energy on what cannot be changed, identify small areas you can influence, such as your routines, self-care practices, or communication style. This shift in focus builds a sense of empowerment and prevents burnout.
Reframe Perspective Through Meaning-Making: Frankl’s work emphasizes finding meaning in suffering. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from this experience?” or “How can this challenge deepen my resilience or compassion?” By reframing adversity as a teacher rather than just a burden, you transform hardship into personal growth and inner strength.
Practice Adaptive Self-Compassion: Adversity challenges us to change ourselves, and that process requires kindness. We can practice adaptive self-compassion by forgiving mistakes, acknowledging limitations, and affirming that imperfection is part of being human. This helps reduce guilt, fosters emotional resilience, and sustains strength over time.
Together, these tools help us embrace adversity not as a wall, but as a catalyst for inner growth, resilience, and more sustainable caregiving.
As unpaid family caregivers, we know the road is full of challenges that make caregiving navigation especially unpredictable and challenging. But when we lean into our personal strengths—our patience, creativity, persistence, compassion—we find the resilience to face adversity with courage and hope.
Using your strengths doesn’t make the challenges disappear, but it empowers you to navigate them in healthier, more sustainable ways. Each time we call on those inner strengths, we not only protect our own well-being but also show up more fully for the ones we love.
Together, we are stronger than the struggles we face.