What About Making A Family Resolution This Year?

Friday, January 8, 2010, 16:04

New Year's is a time for resolutions. Dr. Samuel Gladding, professional counsellor in family counselling from Wake Forest University suggests that rather than making individual promises, families should set goals for the new calendar year together.

Family resolutions can be fun and fulfilling. It can help you grow both as a family and as an individual. Making resolutions encourages families to be proactive rather than reactive. Many families get caught up in comfortable routines, but sometimes they're not growth promoting.

Family meetings should be held regularly throughout the year, but January 1 is a good time to start family meetings on a regular basis. He has offered some tips on how to make the most of the meetings.

• Eliminate distractions

When holding a family meeting, there should be no diversions. Turn the television off and sit in a circle so that each one is able to the other person's face.

• Give everyone a chance to talk

The family meeting is a time to talk over issues, set goals for the year and to do some practical planning. Everybody, irrespective of sex and age should be given a chance to speak.

• Set priorities

Set your priorities and discuss the most important issues. Solve issues that may be building up family tensions or discomforts.

• Establish goals

Use the family meeting to set goals such as eating dinner together more frequently or setting aside more time for favorite family activities.