Life Design – 7 Tips to Strengthen Family and Community

Family

I am extremely fortunate and proud to come from a family of seven children and although we have faced our share of tragedy and individual challenges over the years, we remain solid in our connections with each other.   Our mother, particularly, accepted us all as individuals and encouraged and supported us to accept each other, warts and all!   Family, whether biological or chosen, grounds and completes us.  Healthy family relationships give us a sense of belonging, the knowledge that we are loved, and that we are accepted even though we may take risks or stray from an accepted path.

Community

I have a colleague and friend who refers to her professional community as her ‘tribe’.   I really like this concept as it reinforces the need we all have to be part of a group that “gets us” and unites us with the similarities we all share.  Being part of a strong community reinforces our value of self. Our “Family” and “Community” are the key people supporting us and walking with us as our Life and Work Design unfolds.  For many of us our community and our family are the foundation of who we are.

When a person has a strong sense of family and community 

• Our needs are met automatically
• We honor our values more consistently
• We express our boundaries with compassion
• We carry our sense of belonging with us
• We are self confident
• We have direction and a sense of contribution

When a person does not have a strong sense of family and community 

• We have more self doubt
• We are lonely and self critical
• We often over-achieve
• We isolate ourselves
• We miss opportunities for personal and professional growth
• We are direction – less

Seven ways strengthen your family and community connections?

1. Understand that families and communities are people and not perfect
2. Recognise and declare required boundaries with compassion and respect
3. Establish community activities that connect you with like minded people
4. Let go of negatives and re-frame into opportunities
5. Contact a family member or friend you have lost touch with
6. Find a new way to contribute to your family and community
7. Affirm to yourself that you deserve your sense of belonging

 Working your way through these processes takes courage!  Be kind to yourself and feel free to contact Patti, if you would like a Coach to partner you on this journey. (Patti offers a no obligation 30minute FREE phone coaching session to get you started).