7 ways to mend family rifts

Those who are related to us by blood and marriage are expected to be our closest allies, our greatest source of love and support.

However, such frequent interaction also breeds misunderstandings and resentment, arguments and harassment.

Those whom we should love the most end up feeling like enemies or strangers.

And this is why EQ becomes a powerful tool to help us get along with our families. Positive self-awareness and empathy, along with lasting harmony with ourselves and others, help us know how to meet each other's needs.

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is incredibly powerful within the family because it helps you manage your relationships with parents and children, siblings, relatives, and extended family.

When you know how you feel, you can't be manipulated by other people's emotions; nor can you blame family conflicts on others. Therefore, most techniques for improving family relationships focus on communicating your feelings to the people you care about, as close relationships are centered on feelings.

Without this emotional intimacy, family communication would become a burden, because no one feels comfortable spending so much time with a stranger.

If you want your family members to accept each other lovingly, you must begin with honesty and openness about your own emotions.

Below are some practical tips to help you improve your relationships with family members, as well as effective methods to bring everyone in the house closer together.

Self-care

Take care of your health if you hope to be able to take care of others. The more time your family demands, the more exercise you need. Perhaps it's best if you and your family find a way to exercise together.

Listen

If you want your family members to accept each other lovingly, you must begin with honesty and openness about your own emotions. (Photo: ITN)

Listen if you expect to be listened to. Lack of communication is the most common cause of conflict in most families. The answer to "Why don't they listen to me?" might simply be "I don't listen to them."

Generosity

Giving and receiving are part of the same chain of love. If we don't give, it's difficult to receive, and if we don't receive, we truly don't have much to give.

Observe your tone of voice and behavior.

Young children and the elderly are particularly sensitive to nonverbal cues. (Image: ITN)

Take responsibility for what you communicate silently. Young children and the elderly are especially sensitive to nonverbal cues. More than words, tone of voice, posture (body language), and facial expressions all convey our emotions.

We must listen to our own tone of voice and look at ourselves in photos and mirrors to assess emotional appropriateness. Words of love spoken through clenched teeth don't convey love; they only evoke confusion and fear.

Avoid excessive intervention.

Don't try to solve problems for your loved ones. Caring for your family doesn't mean taking responsibility for their problems, giving unsolicited advice, or shielding them from their own emotions. Let them know their strengths and create opportunities for them to ask you what they need.

Make a lasting impression through action.

Your value will be communicated through your actions, no matter what you say. So, lead by example, don't nag.

If you make a mistake, admit it to everyone, including younger family members. Apologizing when you hurt someone you love is a model of humility and emotional integrity.

You can prove that no one is perfect. An apology shows that you can forgive yourself and makes it easier to forgive others.

Generous in expressing love

Everyone in the family, especially young children, needs emotional reassurance through loving words, gestures, and eye contact. Those who least often ask for emotional attention may be the ones who need it the most.

Source: https://giadinh.suckhoedoisong.vn/7-cach-han-gan-ran-nut-gia-dinh-172240416090746082.htm