It often becomes a role filled with responsibility, urgency, and emotional weight.
In this week’s Inspired Caring Podcast episode, Michele sits down with life coach and secondary caregiver Yana Dashevsky for a thoughtful conversation about support systems, holding space, and learning how to navigate caregiving with more compassion for both ourselves and others.
Yana shares her experience supporting her mother, who is the primary caregiver for her grandparents, and reflects on how caregiving impacts the entire family system. Together, Michele and Yana explore the emotional layers of caregiving, the importance of allowing others to help, and how coaching principles can help caregivers process difficult emotions without feeling consumed by them.
✨ A Quote to Sit With
This quote beautifully captures one of the hardest parts of caregiving: resisting the urge to immediately fix everything. Sometimes the most supportive thing we can do is simply stay present with someone in their pain, while also allowing ourselves grace in the process.
🧭 A Helpful Resource
One of the most meaningful concepts discussed in this episode is “holding space.” Holding space means being fully present with someone without trying to rush, solve, or minimize their emotions. This can be especially important for caregivers navigating changing family dynamics, grief, stress, or uncertainty.
As you move through your caregiving journey, consider asking yourself:
- Where am I carrying everything alone?
- What support might I allow myself to receive?
- How can I respond with more compassion instead of pressure?
🌿 The C.A.R.I.N.G. Framework © Reflection
Caregiving requires constant navigation through changing emotions, evolving family roles, and difficult decisions. This episode reminds us that we do not have to navigate those moments perfectly. Sometimes navigating well simply means pausing long enough to acknowledge what we’re feeling, allowing support in, and extending compassion to ourselves and the people around us.
🎧 Episode Reference
Inspired Caring Podcast — Episode 26: Caregiver Support Systems
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