Living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
HABIT Healthy Action to Benefit Independence & Thinking™
Welcome to the HABIT page for people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and program participants. The HABIT Program is for individuals with MCI and their loved ones to learn the best strategies for adapting, coping, and living their best lives with MCI.
Follow the HABIT page to receive updates and information about adjusting to MCI and combating dementia. Our goal is to connect you with others and provide you with information and support.
Have you ever engaged in a random act of kindness? We hear those delightful stories all the time--the kind customer who bought coffee for the person behind them in line or a surprise batch of cookies for a lonely next-door-neighbor. And there is simple kindness toward others--compliments, a smile, praise, or just saying hello! The writer Barbara de Angelis said, ''Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver."
I think we can all agree that kindness is powerful and to be kind to one another is valued. But what about self-kindness? Today, we'd like to suggest some ways that you can be both the giver and the receiver of kindness by practicing self-kindness--get that double blessing! None of us are perfect---we all make mistakes and have flaws. But when we add stress to the mix, such as a challenging diagnosis like Mild Cognitive Impairment, acts of self-kindness can help. Self-kindness can help both you and your loved ones cope with your own internal experiences (your thoughts and emotions) as well as day to day outside stress with more resiliency. Mild Cognitive Impairment is, unfortunately, one of those stressors we just can't change. It is what it is. And when you can't change that external stressor, you CAN change your response to it.
Here are some recommendations for practicing self-kindness. This week, I'd like to challenge you to randomly pick an activity from the list below each day for the next week. Give that activity a try and see what happens!
Let us know how it goes! Or tell us what is your favorite random act of self-kindness? Next week, we'll aim to go a little more in depth into more broad concepts of practicing self-kindness in an ongoing manner in your approach to yourself and life.
Liked by Sheri Donaldson, Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Chris Trout, Volunteer Mentor, Parus ... see all
@hopeful33250 Thank you for the reminder. I sure need a refresher course at times.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Dr. Dona Locke, HABIT AZ Director, Andrea Cuc, Merry, Volunteer Mentor ... see all
Excellent advice. Many thanks! Perfect timing…
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Parus, Dr. Dona Locke, HABIT AZ Director, Andrea Cuc ... see all
Thank you for Part 1 of this amazing article, Andrea. I have shared it with two different discussion groups on Mayo Connect. I'm looking forward to Part 2!
Liked by Parus, Dr. Dona Locke, HABIT AZ Director, Andrea Cuc, MaryBeth ... see all
@hopeful33250 I too need to do more random acts of kindness for self. So often forget.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Parus, Dr. Dona Locke, HABIT AZ Director, Andrea Cuc ... see all
Too often we are so caught up in being a wife, mother, friend that we fade away and become just the giver. Its wonderful to have some time to reflect on self and take some of your wonderful ideas to remember we are much more than those things.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Lisa Lucier, Parus, Andrea Cuc ... see all
@lindapc So very true. So oft we are so busy filling our roles we can lose who we are.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Andrea Cuc, lioness, alamogal635
@liv4now
Thank you, Andrea. I have shared this with a couple of folks in my family who need to hear it right now.
Liked by Teresa, Volunteer Mentor, Lisa Lucier, Dr. Dona Locke, HABIT AZ Director, Andrea Cuc ... see all