Family Life As You Want It

In the present economic climate there are many challenges to family life. 

One challenge is that if you have a job these days, your employer is probably demanding more and more time from you, leaving you with less time for your family.  The kids want to see more of you and you’re simply not available to them.

Conversely, if you don’t have a job, then you may well be spending more time with the family than you ever thought you would.  If you’re not prepared to do it, you may well feel overwhelmed.

There are as many family challenges as there are families.  The economy has exacerbated some already keen problems. Money problems, health problems, and relationship problems seem to compound in a weak economy.

The first thing to do is to get absolutely clear on what’s important to you.  In other words, what are your values?  Here’s a good exercise for figuring this out:

1. Ask yourself aloud, “What’s important to me about my family?”
2. Answer aloud and write down whatever comes out of your mouth.
3. Repeat this over and over again until the “well runs dry.”
4. When the well runs dry, go back and do the steps 1 to 3 again until the well runs dry again.
5. Then do steps 1 to 3 a third time.

Each time the well runs dry, you’re going a bit deeper into your unconscious mind.

Now look at your list and prioritize it.  Voila.  You have your family values.

See my next post for what to do with your family values.

Feeling stressed?  Have a look here for ways to cope.