All families go through difficult and uncertain times, be it a painful death, illness, money, or addiction issues. It is during this period of trials that you will need to show tremendous support to your family members. It might be your spouse, kids, parents, siblings, or even extended family members. Perhaps you might have had your challenging times. Do you remember the love and support you received from your loved ones?
Previous studies have established the connection between family support and its positive outcomes like improved family life, satisfaction, and lower stress rates. You don’t have to make a grand gesture to show your support, and it could be the littlest things like regularly checking on them. Here are a few other things you can do to help your relatives in tough times:
Remember…it’s not about you
Your relative’s pain or trying period should not be all about you. So, regardless of whether you’ve been in a similar position or your family member’s suffering directly or indirectly affects you, remember that you are not the main focus. Instead, your attention should be on the affected person. Sure, the situation might remind you of something similar that you have personally gone through. That doesn’t make you a bad person. But when, instead of supporting your loved one, you keep harping about your experience, it’s not a good look. You may come across as being insensitive even when it’s not your intention. What you can do is only to share your experience when your family member asks you to do so.
Be a good listener
The act of listening has many benefits, be it practical or social. People would appreciate you and your support more when they see how much effort you put into listening to them and not just hearing or talking at them. Sometimes, your relative might just need someone to voice their frustrations. There are boundaries to being a good listener, and one thing you always have to remember is that you should always be aware of when to speak or offer advice.
Help them find a solution
You might not want to give advice that hasn’t been asked for, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek external professional help when the need arises. If, for example, your family is battling severe legal issues, you might want to seek help from a firm with skilled criminal defense attorneys. You must also seek help from medical or financial institutions if they have any illnesses or money problems. In whatever situation they might be going through, you must try to find the best solution to their problems. They will appreciate it a lot.
Make the time for them
One of the most critical but overlooked shows of concern is making time for your loved ones. You can help them perform tasks or run errands on their behalf, whether it’s doing their grocery shopping or cooking meals for them. You can also plan activities that will help them clear their minds or cheer them up. This lowers the effect of the challenge they are having and makes getting through it easier and faster.
Previous studies have established the connection between family support and its positive outcomes like improved family life, satisfaction, and lower stress rates. You don’t have to make a grand gesture to show your support, and it could be the littlest things like regularly checking on them. Here are a few other things you can do to help your relatives in tough times:
Remember…it’s not about you
Your relative’s pain or trying period should not be all about you. So, regardless of whether you’ve been in a similar position or your family member’s suffering directly or indirectly affects you, remember that you are not the main focus. Instead, your attention should be on the affected person. Sure, the situation might remind you of something similar that you have personally gone through. That doesn’t make you a bad person. But when, instead of supporting your loved one, you keep harping about your experience, it’s not a good look. You may come across as being insensitive even when it’s not your intention. What you can do is only to share your experience when your family member asks you to do so.
Be a good listener
The act of listening has many benefits, be it practical or social. People would appreciate you and your support more when they see how much effort you put into listening to them and not just hearing or talking at them. Sometimes, your relative might just need someone to voice their frustrations. There are boundaries to being a good listener, and one thing you always have to remember is that you should always be aware of when to speak or offer advice.
Help them find a solution
You might not want to give advice that hasn’t been asked for, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek external professional help when the need arises. If, for example, your family is battling severe legal issues, you might want to seek help from a firm with skilled criminal defense attorneys. You must also seek help from medical or financial institutions if they have any illnesses or money problems. In whatever situation they might be going through, you must try to find the best solution to their problems. They will appreciate it a lot.
Make the time for them
One of the most critical but overlooked shows of concern is making time for your loved ones. You can help them perform tasks or run errands on their behalf, whether it’s doing their grocery shopping or cooking meals for them. You can also plan activities that will help them clear their minds or cheer them up. This lowers the effect of the challenge they are having and makes getting through it easier and faster.
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