By Elvenia Gray-Sandiford
A highly resilient family is one that can stick together and emerge stronger, even in the face of adversity. Let us also remember that resilience looks different for each person and their situation.
The dynamics of our families are complex, with different personalities and needs at play. My idea or experience of family may not be the same as yours. It can be difficult to maintain cohesion and unity, especially during challenging times. A resilient family, however, is one that is able to do just that. We are able to bounce back from difficult times, and weather any storm that comes our way.
But family resilience does not come about by chance. It requires us to take proactive steps to build trust, communication, problem-solving skills, and networks, even when things are going well. One way to do this is to maintain or build strong, positive relationships with family and friends as a support system that braces us in difficult times. This strong support system of family and friends helps enhance our mental well-being.
One of the key components of building our family resilience is communication. Open and honest communication is essential for any family to thrive. Instead of hiding troubles and trying to resolve them on our own, resilient families make problem-solving a family exercise. If we all work together, we can find solutions and support each other through difficult times.
Another important aspect of family resilience is reconciliation. Conflict is inevitable in any family, but it is how those conflicts are resolved that determines the level of resilience. We are able to put aside our differences and conflicts and work towards reconciliation.
One of my daughter’s common expressions is “experience teaches wisdom”. This means taking the lessons learned from difficult experiences and using them to grow and become stronger. By sharing these lessons, we can support and learn from each other. Let us practice turning our mess into messages, and our tests into testimonies. Share the wisdom of our experiences with others, so they do not have to face the challenges we did.
There are also specific habits that we can cultivate to build resilience. These include establishing family values and rules that everyone agrees on, including children. Spending quality time together is also important, as is saying words of affirmation, performing acts of service, and physical touch. These small acts of kindness and love can go a long way towards building a strong and resilient family.
To wrap up our three-week series, remember that building family resilience is essential for maintaining a healthy and happy family dynamic, whatever our family looks like. It requires proactive steps, such as effective communication, reconciliation, and building a strong support system.
By cultivating specific habits, such as spending quality time together and showing acts of kindness and love, families can build a foundation of resilience that will help them weather any storm. Remember, the seeds of resilience need to be sown in the good times so they can be harvested in challenging days.
Let us begin building our family resilience today!
editorial@accjournal.ca
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