“Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.” These are probably the most frightening words imaginable. This expression is an example of effective forecasting, which is defined as the attempt to predict one’s future emotional reaction to certain events. We are, to a certain degree, ineffective at predicting our emotions due to preconceptions in our thoughts and other influences.
Depending on the circumstances, these nine words can be either the beginning of a struggle or the beginning of the end and sometimes both. It can be the beginning of the struggle that will eventually lead to the end. Understandably, our emotions spin out of control when we hear those words. What is the best we can hope for? What is the worst we should to prepare for?
These nine words can, and often do, create emotions of the greatest intensity that is imaginable. They consist of emotions from one extreme of the scale to the other and every gamut in between. Emotional Support can help lessen these intense emotions and help calm the stress and anxiety that comes along with them. Instead, maybe we should HOPE FOR THE BEST AND PREPARE FOR THE BEST END-OF-LIFE.
When it comes to life decisions, it can be good to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. You can then be ready for the possible worse case scenario, but also pleasantly surprised if the result is the best case scenario. However, anything better then any worse case scenario we can imagine is worthy of being pleasant.
Hoping seems to dwindle from our thoughts as we let preparing for the worst dominate. When we allow preparing for the worst thoughts to dominate our emotions it removes us from the present. Time is limited and therefore is of great significance during the end of life. We can choose to hope for the best or we can make it the best and increase the quality of life during the final days. Don’t dwell on the worst case scenario, because you might miss out enjoying what good times are left.
Preparing for the worst, what does that look like? We can’t adequately prepare for our worse possible emotions, but we can prepare to make the worse a little bit better, and a little bit can go a long way.
Utilize any and all the support available, physically and emotionally as soon as possible. The sooner is the better. By having these services as early as possible one can improve the quality of the end of life not only for the patient but for their friends and family.
Discuss your concerns and wishes. Discuss your feelings with each other, the care team, your doctor, anyone you trust and feel comfortable sharing your feelings with. Emotional support helps tremendously and can allow everyone to better enjoy the what time remains A resource that can help with this is Five Wishes. Five Wishes helps you express your wishes ahead of time. Not only does it help deal with medical and legal issues, it deals with your comfort care and maintaining your dignity. It also addresses many personal, family and spiritual concerns you may have. Take a look for yourself;
Consult an attorney if necessary so that any legal matters can be handled more efficiently and smoothly after your passing. End of life legal services are everlasting. These documents will continue even if they are not needed until a much later date. Handling these matters early on can allow more quality time later.
Express your wishes of any memorial and or funeral arrangements ahead of time. Leave no doubt for your family to guess at what you want at the End of Life.
Another resource that may help everyone during this trying time is a website, What Matters Now. So many of our friends and family do not live within close vicinity yet they still want to be connected and informed of our loved one’s condition and any updates. Email and social media are great ways to communicate of our loved one’s updates, however, both can be a bit time consuming and exposed to more than those who the information is intended for. What Matters Now provides a free personal website for a more private and effective way of connecting with those from a distance. You can explore this service at, http://www.whatmattersnow.org/
By addressing all these matters early on, it will not only alleviate some of the stress it will allow an increase of the quality time that remains.
HOPE FOR THE BEST AND PREPARE FOR THE BEST END-OF-LIFE.
Best Wishes
