We all have a need to be socially accepted and loved by our family members, so maintaining good family relationships is important for each one of us. When your family is strong, you always have someone to talk to or turn to if you need help, and more importantly, children grow in a much healthier environment, feeling loved and secure, which helps them develop not only intellectually but also emotionally, which in turn makes them better people and teaches them better values. But how do we form and maintain healthy family relationships?
Spend quality time together
It is so easy for us these days to stretch ourselves thin and make time for work, a new project, diner with friends, that party we were invited to but didn’t want to go to… Somehow, we always forget to put aside some time for our family members, even though, just like any other relationship, these ones need your attention as well. Therefore, make sure that you spend some quality time with your family, and don’t hesitate to plan it out just like you would do going out with your friends. One of the best ways you can spend more time together is by forming daily or weekly rituals that you never skip. You can eat breakfast together every morning, go on a walk in the afternoons, or have a movie night once a week – whatever works best for your family dynamics.
Communication
Positive communication is one of the most important aspects of good relationships, and you should try to implement it whenever you talk to your family members. If you want to maintain good family relations, avoiding major conflicts is crucial, and positive communication can be very helpful in that regard. When you are talking to someone, give them your full attention and make sure that you don’t judge them, or mock them when they are opening up to you. Also, don’t forget to apologize when you have to and talk openly about difficult topics as well. All of these conversations will just contribute to stronger relationships within your family.
Non-verbal communication
Some would argue that non-verbal communication is often even more important than the verbal one.
Take hints from the body language your family members are showing you and pay attention to what kind of message you are sending as well. You’d be surprised how much you can improve and change with just a smile.
Affection
Lastly, do not forget to show affection to your family members. Praise them when they do good and when you feel proud of them, compliment them often, and make sure they know you are there for them whenever they need you. By replacing shouting and fighting with affection, everybody comes out of an argument as a winner.
