News
Family Values
Upon the arrival of this year’s holy month of Ramadan, it seemed like a good time to re-evaluate and consider the most important influences in each of our lives. It’s clear that we tend to adopt the values and beliefs of our parents and those around us as we grow up.
We also develop our initial sense of identity through our early experiences in this community. In some families, parents may want their children to achieve more than they did, and in others the belief could be that it is character-building to struggle.
- How have you been influenced by your family?
- What does family represent to you?
- How satisfied are you with the part of your life that is associated with your family?
- If you now have a family of your own, which values and beliefs are you consciously passing on and which ones are you choosing to discard?
In my family, we all have a lot of fun noticing the various idiosyncratic ways of ourselves and our close relatives – the differences and similarities of how we all behave in certain situations, our strengths and specific personality traits. In any family group, differences exist, and learning to accept ourselves for who we are, warts and all, is vital to achieving some level of harmony.
A community, however small, operates successfully when there are commonly agreed values and where all members display mutual respect and understanding. If you want to feel more connected with your folks, here are some questions to ask yourself and then explore with each family member in turn:
- How truthful do you feel you can be with each other?
- How much respect do you show each other?
- What level of understanding do you show each other?
- How much personal space do you each have or give each other?
- How much family and individual time do you give to each other?
Where there is TRUST, there is great strength, so only ask the above of each other if you’re feeling brave enough! If you remember to see conflict as a growth opportunity, however, you’ll be fine!!
Good luck, all, and here’s to a rich and rewarding Ramadan!!