What does it take to have a more loving family dynamic?
1. Focus more on what everyone does right. Instead of focusing on what displeases you, focus more on what you love. Your spouse and children love praise more than they love criticism. So, start looking for all the things that make you happy and focus on the positive. You might even get more of it.
2. Practice forgiveness. We all argue and have disagreements. We all have bad days and can irritate each other. The key is to ask for forgiveness and easily forgive our family members when they hurt our feelings. Holding grudges will steal your joy and happiness. Conflict is a part of life and we can learn to forgive quickly if we practice forgiveness.
3. Hug several times a day. Make hugging a big part of your family routine. Hug when you wake up, before you leave the house, when you come home and before you go to bed. Hugging is shown to reduce stress and actually make you happier. So, make hugging a big part of your daily routine even if you have teenagers.
4. Connect and schedule quality time. Most of us are very busy and have a lot of responsibilities. It’s not always the amount of time we spend with our loved ones, but it’s the quality. Most of us are physically with our family, but we are not ‘really’ with our family. The key is to give your undivided attention to your family when you are with them. This makes them feel important and that is what most of want to feel…IMPORTANT.
5. Find ways to LAUGH together. The family that laughs together stays together.Find ways to loosen up and have fun. Each day find ways to connect and laugh over funny stories from the day, a joke, have a little goofy or silly time or even watch a funny comedy together. Laughter is still the best medicine and can do wonders for creating a loving and happier family.
Today life can feel so overwhelming and sometimes we just have to take a step back and remember what is most important.
Live Mentally Healthy,
Cognitive Psychiatry of Chapel Hill