3 Ways To Be Happy In The Modern Family
This article Is about how the traditional family has transformed and evolved into the modern family that thrives today. Even if your family is more traditional, this article will highlight the reasons why some families last the journey of time and others do not.
“But what do you mean, our values are still very similar to those before us…”
They sure are.
But what is a family…traditionally?
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary; family noun “a group consisting of one or two parents and their children”.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com
An article from from Relationships Australia about the definition of a modern family, is that a family is made more from emotional bonds and commonalities in terms of goals, values and responsibilities.
It is not through solely biological bonds.
Here is a hypothetical, if genetically, you weren’t able to give birth to a ‘little bundle of joy’, would you not consider yourself and your partner in the same household, a family?
I can guarantee would share fulfillment together, common values and be totally supportive of each other in your individual endeavours.
Food for thought.
So why am I raising this point?
Does it really apply to you?
Yes, it does.
You may know a couple that doesn’t want to have kids through choice, you may know someone who doesn’t or physically can’t and many of a thousand other reasons.
You may also BE this couple.
This creates a sense of understanding in your own family of why you’re together. That you do have deeper bonds and connections than just your chromosomes getting in a twist.
The reason why this applies on a health standpoint is that your individual goals are intertwined with your family values. And your individual values are intertwined with your family goals.
This needs to be taken into account as it is going to be the best solution to help you both achieve your goal of eating better, moving more and building deeper connections.
You have your individualities in each person but there are still two plates that you put out on the table for dinner every night, not one. I believe we should think accordingly.
There is a time and a place to be your individual self, to be dominant and influential to your own true self, to spread your wings and fly solo. But you will always return to the nest, eventually, to be the supporter and the nurturer.
For the modern family, we must be mindful and appreciative of the situation we find ourselves in.
Some families will last forever, they will flow and change through time, much like how your personal health goals change and twist with the times. One year you may want to lose that ‘stubborn’ 5kg, one year it’s all about fixing your knee pain so you can walk and run again. It’s the same with family, one year it’s about financial security, another year, it’s more about spoiling you, your partner, your family with adventure and excitement.
As a smaller-sized family, there are different challenges that must be faced. The concept of eating better, moving more and building deeper connections will be applied in different methods. Ultimately, leading to the same principle of happiness and fulfilment in your relationships.
Here are 3 ways you can eat better, move more and building deeper connections in a modern family;
Modern Family Concept; 2 plates, 1 meal
Different goals, same meal. Just because you have different goals in regards to health, doesn’t mean you should cook different meals. There is something special about the bond of sharing flavours and foods. For obvious reasons, avoid intolerances and allergies but aim for the same meal.
Mix up the spice and flavours to creates dishes that suit both you and your partner. How nice is it to hear when someone says “this is really delicious” and you can say “yes, I agree”? Or even… “I disagree”. You are both connecting over a commonality.
A very successful method that I use with clients is in this article, How to Develop Family Self-Worth.
Modern Family Concept; 2 directions, 1 path
Different goals, same journey. This can be in regards to a walk you both like to take, going to the gym together but using different equipment. The point is that you are supporting one another.
Both on the same journey but achieving our own goals.
Modern Family Concept; 2 people, 1 family
Different people, same relationship. Like I mentioned before, the modern family appreciates the importance of each other’s values. Slightly different individually but the same family values. When you can identify them, then you can actually create a deeper connection because you align yourselves to the same galaxy but not the same star.
This is why the traditional family is changing, not away from the good values. But being more appreciative of why you are together and why the strong bonds never break.
I ask you, to ask yourself and your modern family; why are you here? And what is it you really want from one another?
