Healthy Family Relationships

What I Realized After I Hit the Floor
of the Skating Rink

Part 1, 2, 3, 4

Finding time to create and keep healthy family relationships, as well as close friendships, is important to helping you sustain your motivation as a leader of others at work.

That is why this item:

Close connections with people you trust and who care about you is a key part of every leader's long-term motivation and energy.

These are the people (related or not related) who love you, see the best in you and will be there for you no matter what. They become your own inspiration network, giving you encouragement and support, when you need it.

The resources in this Healthy Family Relationships four-part article set includes: four components critical to creating close connections, the one thing that builds the strongest, long-term connections, plus heart-warming and fun videos and practical tips.

There is also a place for you to share your advice and ask your questions about this important area.

This is one of the areas in the Wake Up Eager Quiz where I struggle.

I've been working on it, it doesn't come naturally for me. I know I am not the only one because I see the scores on the completed Wake Up Eager Quizzes. Many of WUE readers score themselves lower in this area.

I care about my extended family (I do not have kids) but I have not worked, in a focused or consistent manner, to keep close ties with them.

An exercise around a topic not directly related to family in a speaker training workshop I attended really highlighted what gets in the way for me. I'll share here because I believe I see it in others too.

One of our assignments was to 'let loose, be relaxed, real and in the moment' as we shared our speeches. No effort. No trying. No mask. No fake. Just 'be' the topic. It might sounds weird or easy to some, but it felt very hard for me.

It helped me realize that I focus a lot on 'adding value'. If I'm not being 'funny, helpful, insightful, bright or uplifting' or offering something 'special', I feel like I'm not doing enough to earn the support, trust or love of any one.

This kind of striving and effort with people, along with an independent nature, is applauded in the corporate world - but can create distance and separation in our personal world.

Many of us do not have a bunch of unhealthy friend and family relationships, but I believe there's a stronger level of connection we can all develop. If we do we will enrich and improve our lives not only personally, but professionally.

My 'hang-ups' around not asking for help and trying to always 'add value' hit me right in the face on my birthday awhile back.

I went from this...

...having fun roller skating...

...to the hospital at midnight.

Yes, it was my bright idea to go skating.

No, I did not break both wrists, just my left. (I'm left-handed.)

I severely strained my right hand, and it hurt just as much! (I originally typed this article with a couple of fingers!)

Here's what I realized in a new way, about healthy family relationships, after I hit the skating rink floor...

...even though being independent is a skill I've thoroughly mastered, it is really important to have people in your life who love you even when you can't do a thing for them.

After the fall, Jeff, my husband, had to help me for several days.

Brush my teeth, get dressed, fix dinner, put up the dishes, move my pillow, get me ice, put on my jacket. Well, the list went on...and on...and on.

This small, not-a-big-deal-I-will-heal experience really heightened my awareness about the value and importance of strong and healthy family relationships (friends, too).

Taking the time to solve relationship problems and to re-build, strengthen and/or create healthy family relationships (and friends) who love and appreciate you for you, not just for what you do for them, is worth your, and my, time and attention.

I've gone to several experts for the best tips and ideas for improving family relationships.

Since this area is not a strength for me I would love to hear your advice for all of us who struggle in this area. Share your 'how I create healthy family relationships' advice and resources with the WUE Community, here.

And, if you are like me, maybe a little, frustrated in your efforts to bring your family closer, share what you are struggling with here.

Go to Part 2 of this Series now where we'll cover the Four Components Found in All Healthy Family Relationships and the #1 Thing You Can Do to Make Improvements.

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