All families have problems. Strong families meet the problems as they come and band together to weather the storms as a cohesive unit. Even the youngest members of the family have roles in crises. Strong families seek counsel for how to handle the stresses associated with family life, such as illness, death, marital difficulties, and change. Strong families often are able to prevent the stress that comes with change by anticipating issues and informing themselves on how to avert problems or resolve challenges in a healthy way.
Because strong families are so good at proactive stress management, they often experience many fewer crises than other families.
Strong families know that life deals losing hands from time to time. It’s unavoidable. Strong families pull together in such times; they seek to minimize the damage and learn from the experience.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about the six qualities of strong families. Many psychologists and theorists will study the problems in life, but this perspective, published by Stinnett and DeFrain in 2006 focuses only on the strengths of families. It shows us how having these six qualities equips families with armor to come through the battles that life provides without too much damage. Take a moment and assess your family strengths. Take stock in the ways your family members rally for one another. Be proud of how you build each other up and pull together in times of need.
The next four years may be a time that tests the invisible web that entangles us, but we know the six qualities that all families have, all over the world, regardless of differences, which empower us to come through troubles together. Despite our particular philosophies we are more alike than we are different; we each seek life, love and happiness. The beauty of this study of family strengths is this: we find what we are searching for. Look for problems and you will find them, but look for strengths and you will find them also.
May 2017 bring you many strengths.