All families struggle at times. Get people closely involved in each other's lives and you get a bit of friction. Of course families also generate warmth and intimacy and a sense of connection. If you want ideas about how to smooth out some of the rough bits, and put the shine on the good bits on your family, then these links may be just what you're looking for.
Infecting Your Relationships with Hope
This is about looking for the admirable, delightful aspects of people. Think about the family relationship that grates on you most just now and imagine how it might change if you felt hopeful and respectful about each other.
Being Loving or Being Right?
Sometimes being right is absolutely the best way to alienate the people you love. Here are some ideas about being loving as an alternative strategy.
Praise is a Renewable Resource
The only limit on it is your own willingness to offer it. Have a go and see what happens when you let your family know how they impress, amaze and delight you.
Fighting a Good Fight
Sometimes how you disagree is more of a problem than the fact that you think something different. Could developing some agreements and skills about acceptable ways to disagree be useful in your family?
Oh is THAT What You were Saying?
How often do you assume you know what someone means and actually get the wrong idea? If people get their wires crossed in your family these tips for getting your communication clear might be useful.
Learning to Express Yourself
Self expression is one of the key things that happens in a family. Is your family's style of expression one that helps you get on well together?