Our world is becoming more competitive each and every day. Just to stay afloat, let alone succeed, takes hard work and dedication. But all too often our families, the ones who love us the most, get neglected because we may get too caught up in this race to success. So I just wanted to touch on some ways to help you keep your family the number one focus in your life.
1: Make sure they are clear part of your vision for the future.
I talk a lot about painting a picture of your dreams that you may have a clear destination to help keep your moving forward. It’s very important that your family be a significant part of this image. If they end up getting lost in the whole process you might just end up living your dreams all by yourself.
2: Do at least one specific thing for them each and every day.
Nothing speaks louder than action. Take time out of every day to serve your family in a way that is selfless, caring and that allows them to see that you love them. Not only does this strengthen your relationship but it consistently reminds you of what’s truly important in life.
3: Try not to turn down too many offers.
It’s very easy, as we get busier with our work, to spend all our time on projects and meeting deadlines. And in light of this we will often turn down requests from our loved ones to spend time with them. Whether it’s our kids or our spouse or just a good friend, try not to reject them too much. Even if it’s important work, nothing is too important than nourchering these precious relationships.
4: Keep some pictures near by.
Humans are very visual creatures. The visions we put in our heads have a tendency to stick much more than the words we read or hear. This is why we have paintings and posters on our walls. So it is very important that we keep images of the ones we love in plain sight at all times. Whether a photo on your desk or a picture on the wall, keep your family in plain sight and they will be much more likely to stay in the forefront of your mind.
5: Take time off.
I’m not just talking about a day or two but time enough to really unwind and spend some quality time with your family. We can only have but so many experiences with our families in our day to day routines. But it is through real quality time that we find ourselves growing closer to these loved ones and really appreciating what we have. So always make it a priority to have time with your family where you are not working but instead putting all your attention on them and they on you. By the way, I could have said, “Take a vacation” but I didn’t for a particular reason. The common “Vacation” these days tends to be filled with overspending, over indulging and just too much stress of it’s own. Where do you think the phrase, “I need a vacation from my vacation” came from? Time off should be time away from those regular responsibilities. It needs to be done in such a way that you can not only relax but focus all your attention on the important things that you may be too often distracted from.
6: Help them reach their goals.
Stay in tune to what they want to accomplish in their daily lives and help them reach those goals. Nothing says “I love you” like a helping hand. Make a concerted effort to encourage them in their journey. And when they are lacking in resources and/or motivation, make sure to be there to meet their needs. Once again, this not only helps your relationship grow but it keeps your families importance at the forefront of your mind.
7: Make your family a prominent part of your routine.
Routines are important because they help use accomplish our goals by staying on task. But if our families are not a core part of those routines they will be left on the sidelines as you tackle each day. We often times think that we’ve included them by the fact that we are around them everyday as we pursue our goals. But this is not enough. We must make sure to specify time that we spend just with them. Time that our minds are focused solely on them. Where distraction is non existent and they are the only ones that we see, hear or touch. It is through these regular, personal interactions that we will grow closer and remain dedicated to one another.
8: Take every opportunity to make them feel special.
It’s very important that your loved ones feel as though they truly matter to you. So take every opportunity to convince them of this. Every holiday, every birthday, even days you make up; use these days as a way to show them how special they really are. Not only to you but the world around them. Not only will this help your relationship with them get stronger but you will be boosting their self esteem and reminding them that they matter in this world.
These are just some simple things your can do to keep these loved ones in that number one slot in your life. Reaching your goals and realizing your dreams is what this site is all about. But if you loose those things that are most important in the process, what’s the point?
Let me know how YOU find ways to nurcher your relationships.
I like number four. It’s one that I rarely see on lists like this, but it’s true and important. Humans are visual creatures, and a second spent looking on a loved one can keep us going for a while.
@Writer Dad: Very true. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Eric,
What a beautiful picture of you, your wife and the “children”.
It’s not often bloggers write about the importance of family life as we’re so busy writing about how to blog, how to make money, or how to find more time to blog.
All eight points are valid. We do need to make time to spend with our loved ones. When it’s all said and done, they are what’s really important in life. Remember that saying? “No man/woman ever lies on their death bed saying “I wish I had spent more time at work”.
Hi Eric,
I forgot to answer your question (you read the lesson today
)
In our family, we have a lot of routines. It’s during those times we give each other our undivided attention. Work and blogging must wait.
@Barbara: Thanks for you nice comments. You’ll definitely notice my focus on my family in my blogs. This is partially because I really do believe that they are what’s truly important and partially because I it’s a way to remind myself of this fact.
It looks like you have a wonderful family. I love your ideas and am going to keep them in mind throughout my day. I always try to make my daughter feel special and make sure I praise her for doing something. Sometimes though, in concentrating on taking care of my daughter, my husband tends to get neglected. I am going to try and work on that. Thank you.
@Luanne: Thanks! I know it can be hard to keep everybody ‘happy’ and you still have needs of your own. But it sounds like your intentions are clearly positive, so your actions should most certainly follow.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to read and reflect. It was actually funny because when I got the email alert about your comment I was thinking, “Man, that’s an old post. Who could be commenting on THAT one?” I had forgotten what I had written. So thanks for digging up an oldy, but a goody that we could both enjoy (me for the second time around).
Eric.