Families can be a life-giving force when they are healthy and relatively stress-free.
Likewise, they provide a sense of belonging andunconditional loveyou are not likely to find anywhere else.
A highly-conflicted ortoxic family relationshipcan cause a lot of damage.
Healthy family relationships are a great source of stress relief.Morsa Images/Taxi/Getty Images
Sometimes they even depend on them for support when they’re experiencing afinancial crisis.
The family is a constant in a person’s life.
Families also carry your history and share your future.
Who better than siblings, parents, and other close relatives to reminisce with about your childhood?
According to researchers, strong families all have six qualities in common.
Here’s a closer look at each.
Appreciation and Affection
Healthy families help one another when they need it.
They also keep their promises, support one another, and show affection when they are together.
Commitment
Healthy families are loyal, supportive, and committed.
They find it easy to trust one another with the details of their lives.
They also share responsibilities and make decisions together and are there for you when you need them.
No one has your back like your family.
What’s more, criticisms, putdowns, name-calling, and other types ofemotional abuseare rare.
Instead, families encourage and build one another up.
Time Together
Typically, healthy families have fun when they are together, smiling and laughing often.
Whether their time is planned or spontaneous, strong families enjoy being around one another.
They also share one another’s interests and passions.
Strong Coping Skills
Resilience is a hallmark of healthy families.
They often look for the good in a bad situation and accept the things they cannot change.
Going through a crisis together makes their bonds even stronger.
Spiritual Well-Being
Healthy families usually have positive outlooks on life.
They also are filled with thankfulness and gratitude.
Typically, these families share common values and may even share the same spiritual or religious beliefs.
Even if they do not agree on everything, healthy families are kind and respectful of other opinions.
In fact,dealing with difficult family membersis downright hard.
To keep conflict at bay and reduce stress, check out these tips on dealing with common family issues.
Listening and being empathetic whenever you’re free to is especially important as well.
But don’t be a doormat either.
It’s fine to be assertive and let family members know when they have crossed a line.
And, if the conversation is spiraling out of control, know when to take a timeout.
But they will get used to it.
You don’t have to sacrifice who you are now to make other people feel comfortable.
This is calledpeople-pleasingand it’s an unhealthy habit to fall into.
Some common prejudices involve race, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation.
When you witness prejudice in family members, it’s important to tactfully address it right away.
Sometimes family members don’t realize that what they are doing or saying is marginalizing and insulting.
Talking about tolerance and acceptance is essential.
Just be sure to do it lovingly.
If they are unwilling to be respectful, you may need to establish some boundaries with them.
Being family doesn’t give them the right to disrespect you, a significant other, or anyone else.
When this happens, it is best to shut it down or stay out of it altogether.
Nothing good comes from throwing shade, talking behind people’s backs, and pitting people against one another.
Instead, try redirecting the conversation or walking away.
You also can be more direct and indicate that you are not comfortable with the conversation.
In fact, adult sibling rivalry can cause strained relationships, where siblings argue and struggle to get along.
Try not to take perceived favoritism personally or allow it to impact your relationship with the family.
And whatever you do, do not perpetuate these feelings by competing with your sibling.
If you think your family would benefit from therapy, talk to your doctor for a referral.
While therapy is often most effective when all members participate, this is not always possible.
Work toward strengthening and improving your family relationships.
You are not required to endure abuse just because you’re related.
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