The Caretaker’s Playbook: The Ultimate Guide To Health, Wealth, And Success While Caring For Others

You cannot do a good job caring for others unless you first take great care of you.

Written by Philippe Douyon, MD

To be a guest in someone’s life, to look after them when they can no longer care for themselves, is a great responsibility. That responsibility is not just to your client or patient but also to yourself. Caring for yourself is the most important thing you can do for your client as a caretakerToto give the physical and emotional support that you desire, as well as be the person you are meant to be, you must first take charge of your brain, renew your mind, and develop your growth mindset.

In this article, we will discuss the 5 Ps (Purpose, Picture, Play, People, and Personalized Learning) that will help you create the health, wealth, and success you wish for.

1. Purpose: Every living creature has a reason for being; it’s the “WHY” that creature exists. A person without purpose can often be led astray, living an unfulfilling life. Not only do we all have moments when we feel lost or frustrated and don’t know our purpose, but our “WHY” can also change at different times in our lives. When searching for your purpose, start with your passions, what you’re good at, and your values. Having a purpose will have a significant impact on your quality of life and your brain. Not only will your brain function better, but purpose minimizes the risks of developing issues with memory, language, and thinking associated with dementia. Having a purpose will inspire and excite you and has the added benefit of improving your brain health.

2. Picture: Picture is all about creating a vision for your life. Stevie Wonder once said, “Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean that he lacks vision.” Your vision for your future tells you exactly “WHERE” you are going; it’s your north star. Creating a mental picture of what your future looks like rewires your brain for success. When you visualize your future, a group of cells in your brain, called the Reticular Activating System, helps you become aware of all things related to your mental picture, therefore increasing the likelihood that your vision will come to life.

3. Play: A child’s brain is capable of a tremendous amount of learning. An adult brain is not so different from that of a child. The reason that children far outlearn adults is because children are always playing. They use their imagination, they explore, and they are constantly moving. Moving your body (aka exercise) is the biggest promoter of neuroplasticity, your brain’s ability to make new neurons and networks. Studies have shown that exercising increases your ability to learn and remember to such an extent that you are better off going for a run before a major test than trying to cram at the last minute. Studies have also shown that when someone starts to develop early signs and symptoms of dementia, exercise as simple as a 45-minute walk every day can help reverse some of those symptoms. Exercise is also the best antidepressant and antianxiety treatment there is. It will help to stabilize your mood and release some of the feel-good hormones that will bring you joy and happiness. Moving your body allows your brain to heal after injury, learn new skills more efficiently, and evolve in positive ways. Exercise at least 3-4 times per week, and your physical, mental, and neurological health will all be better for it.

4. People: Did you know that there is a group of neurons in the brain that cause you to mimic the actions of the people you surround yourself with? They are called MIRROR NEURONS. Mirror neurons also start operating at the same frequencies as the people you spend the most time with. That means that you start thinking and acting like them. That’s why they say that if you surround yourself with five multimillionaires, you will be the sixth. The opposite is also true. If you spend time with people who are not doing much with their lives, you’re likely to become part of their tribe. Spend time with people who have created a life that you admire.

5. Personalized Learning: In today’s information age, there are no limits to what you can learn as long as you have access to a computer or phone and the internet. You can learn how to trade the markets, create an e-commerce store, do drop shipping, and so much more. You can then leverage what you’ve learned to make money on that same device. Because of the skills they have learned, people can make a lot of money and never even leave the comfort of their homes. Learning is a lifelong process. When you stop learning, the cells in your brain start to die, and your brain shrinks. Learning keeps your brain young and healthy. It also helps you create new business opportunities and allows you to impact the lives of others positively.

You cannot do a good job caring for others unless you first take great care of yourself. If you incorporate the 5Ps into your life, not only will your life start to evolve in fantastic ways, but your clients will be better off for it.