3 sections to a healthy family – ‘The House of Oneness’ (Part 2)

Foundations: What is the ‘core value’ that your family is built upon? 

4 Pillars that act as a frame work in healthy families: Trust; Understanding; Respect and Love are the keys for unity in a healthy family. 

6 Characteristics that protect the family unit: Commitment; Time Together; Positive Communication; Expressing Appreciation; Spiritual Commitment; Conflict Resolution. 

HOUSE OF ONENESS:

The husband and wife become the architects of their family – deciding the quality of the structure and design, through their values and beliefs they bring into the marriage. The choices parents make determine the outcome of the family! Let’s look at the 4 pillars that act as the frame work for a healthy family. 

LOVE: “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not boastful, deceitful or proud. It does not hold a list of wrongs or demand its own way”. Love is not just a romantic feeling! A love that will last the years ahead, includes a choice, and is seen in our actions to each other. If you choose to love with your actions as well as your heart, this pillar in your family will be the most enduring and committed to the end! 

RESPECT: This can easily be the most neglected pillar in our family. ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’! Seeing your spouse and your children as valuable, priceless gift that need to be cared for and cherished is vital – their feelings, opinions, time and needs are of extreme value and importance. This is so easily neglected as you live each day together. 

UNDERSTANDING: Each one of us is unique and designed with different personalities, love languages and emotional needs. The family unit is designed to teach us to balance our individuality and bonding relationships to each other; a place we feel secure to be our real selves with unconditional acceptance; a journey of learning and growing. This pillar takes the longest to develop and needs communication from the heart! 

TRUST: This pillar creates the environment for Intimacy and is a very fragile pillar. Trust thrives on honesty, being dependable, faithful and open. If trust is broken, wounded people do not easily trust again. It will need to be re-earned with time. Take care! 

Evaluate your strongest and weakest pillars and make steps to strengthen any weak areas. If one pillar is damaged or missing, you won’t experience unity in your family!