Families and personal relationships are important and should be valued and protected because they provide many benefits. People are born into relationships and live their lives in groups consisting of family networks, friendships, marriages, romances, and work relationships. Families and personal relationships are important because they provide many benefits and are a core component of an individual’s overall health. It also appears from ages 18 through 65 we spend more than 70% of our waking hours around others. “People are also known to be social animals by nature” (Waytz). With these facts it is imperative that we have and maintain family and personal relationships.
Family and personal relationships have a strong and emotional connection that can be trusted and depended on. Family is a support group with shared beliefs and values individuals can feel a sense of security with. People who share the same trust and community typically have strong bonds with family members in households. Friends are important in personal relationships because they share the same interests, have an emotional bond, and connect through mutual experiences. As stated in Proverbs 27:6, “Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” When I was young girl, my mother would tell me “friends are good medicine” and it has always stuck with me. Forming connections and a sense of community from relationships is what creates and develops strength as individuals. When people are asked what they value in life, they usually relate to a personal or close relationship. People are ambitious to form bonds with new people, as opposed to breaking them because it gives them a sense of “self-worth” (PsychAlive).
Studies reflect having these relationships promote a healthy life in being able to manage stress better, live longer, feel positive, and richer about life. Statistics prove an average person has approximately six close friends. Hypothetically, as far as being richer, a study was conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research involving “5,000 people in a survey in which they discovered doubling a group of friends has the same impact on one’s well-being as a 50% annual pay increase” (Helliwell / Haifang). An analysis of 148 studies also detected people with solid social relationships are 50% less likely to die prematurely. One more study with over 100 people, researchers found when they completed a stressful task they recovered quicker. Furthermore, people who have solid relationships are only half likely to catch a common virus when exposed to sick people.
127 our experts are availableright now
This claim is relevant to my audience because we want individuals who do not have family or personal relationships in their lives to understand the health risks involved when they lack or sabotage them, how to maintain them, and the prosperity these relationships have on individuals. Unfortunately, it appears without family and personal relationships people have potential to result in anxiety, depression, mental issues, or other detrimental symptoms.
With disturbing results, it appears “96% of families are dysfunctional” (Wadiak) and most families are in denial about it, and sadly children are victims of their own family environment. Symptoms that can deem a family dysfunction include neglect, misbehavior, abuse, conflict, or family members influencing other to behave in this manner, which is detrimentally unhealthy for a human being. With alarming statistics studies have proven dysfunctional families often are a reaction of depression in adolescent children. Many Children display sadness or low mood symptoms similar to adults who are depressed. Statistics confirm adolescent children under the age of twelve may even attempt suicide. It appears females are more inclined to attempt it while males actually succeed with the attempt of suicide.
Dejectedly, we have discovered the large amount of “46% of U.S. children younger than the age of 18 are still living at home with both mother and father in their first marriage and only 45% of American children have spent their childhood in an unbroken family. These measurements have adequately increased since 73% in the 1960s and 61% from the 1980s” (Livingston). These conclusions hurt my heart, and they continue to drop lower and lower over time! What happened to the verse in Romans 7:2-3, does this meaning have no value anymore? “For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives…” Not blaming the woman but the verse is intended for both parties.
Statistics also demonstrate unhealthy relationships consist of characteristics such as control, hostility, dishonesty, intimidation, anger, dependence, sexual violence, physical violence and much more. Psalm 38:3, “Because of your anger, my whole body is sick; my healthy is broken because of you.” It is imperative to coach and teach characteristics of a healthy relationship(s) at an adolescent age in order for them to understand and value in their adulthood years. Let us also be reminded of the verse in Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
For regulation and requirements to keep family and personal relationships healthy you want to possess and share characteristics, starting at a young age consisting of self-confidence, fighting fair, being a good influence and role model, good communication which is key to me. Let us be reminded of the verse in Proverbs 12:18, “Some people make cutting remarks, but the word of the wise bring healing.” Other components include, trust, mutual respect, problem solving, individuality, and support.
In order to build strong and concrete family and personal relationships you will want to utilize skills such as giving a person you undivided attention which listening to them so you can focus on what they are telling you. Try to sympathize with them on how they are feeling without interrupting or judging them. Ensure you fully understand the situation or occurrence they are describing and explaining to you. Try to relate to them by using “I” verbiage rather than “you” when you’re communicating with them (Nelson). From adolescent years families need to spend time together and take family vacations. These times can result in family traditions and can help families build, become stronger, and construe who they really are. They give each of the time they need and often with our busy lives we get caught up in the rift-raft and do not make time for them on the day-to-day. Not to mention this is a good time to set a good example for your kids and how you behave one-on-one with them. A key ingredient is to also “look for opportunities to connect” (Tanner). Studies prove that spending brief and frequent amounts of time with friends and family members is a very powerful and effective task.
Per Dr. Ken Druck who has worked more than 35 years in coaching and counseling others suggests there are several constructive ways to maintain healthy family relationships. Especially since we all know things do not stay the same as we get older. One of the dynamics is to open the channels of family communication and keep them open, similar to a permanent open-door policy. Again, communication is a core component because we need to ask to clear the air and not assume. It allows individuals the opportunity to discuss differences and resolve conflict. You want to listen and not assume as this causes animosity, and as we know “the human experience of feeling understood is the basis for so much peace, love, and progress” (Druck). Another tool to utilize is to learn to forgive one-another. You want to take accountability for your mistakes or misinterpretations. Learning to apologize, reaffirm, and / or forgive to the other party is an essential piece to moving forward and admitting your mistakes.
Another tool to utilize in order to maintain family and personal relationships is to make clear agreements. From past experiences we are able to determine what is effective versus what is not. It appears the need for understanding and agreement is vital to an individual. When you communicate you want to ensure you are respectful, calm, and not accusing the other party of anything, which will hopefully bring prosperity to all or both sides. Let us reiterate a very important passage in Romans 12:17, “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.”
This statement by Dr. Druck is extremely powerful, very true, and effective, “As we and our families age, let’s resist the seduction of fear, jealousy and anger that result only in wasted time, lost affection, estrangement and loneliness. Instead, let’s rededicate ourselves to harvesting the opportunities for closeness, support, gratitude, and understanding. Becoming the better version of ourselves ensures years of joy, deep connection and a legacy of love across generations.”
“Our mental health and personal well-being are tied up in the quality of our personal relationships” (Sharry). These important relationships not only include family and personal friends but also a wider range of groups and communities we belong to. Forming connections and a sense of community with work colleagues, neighbors and the various groups that make up our identity (such as sports, hobbies, religious and community groups), all contribute and collaborate to our well-being. Creating a sense of acceptance with others around a shared task or identity is a major contributor to our sense of personal purpose in life. Our personal flexibility is interwoven into resilience of the communities to which we belong in. It is from the web of our relationships and connections with other individuals that we draw our strength and behavior from. Such communities can lift us when we are torn down and give us the space to deal with whatever challenges that may arise.
When people are asked what they value in life, they usually relate to a personal or close relationship. People are ambitious to form bonds with new people, as opposed to breaking them because it gives them a sense of self-worth. When I was young girl, my mother would tell me “friends are good medicine” and it has always stuck with me. It also reminds me of the verse in Proverbs 27:9, “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” Forming connections and a sense of community from relationships is what creates and develops strength as individuals.
Additionally, family members take an important role in lives but they also contribute to each other’s comfort, belonging, dependence, safety, and stability. When you have a good family relationship there is always love without any judgement or prejudice. It is also known that relationships with family members are considered more important than personal relationships with friends because they have a stronger bond. Regardless, both types of relationships are indispensable.
As a forty-year-old mother, I have encountered that love is the most valuable feeling to retain, and someone cannot feel love without family and personal relationship(s) in their life. Also, I personally have endorsed key ingredients to healthy relationships are communication, trust, loyalty, accountability, and a good sense of humor. While also witnessing and experiencing in my later years, as described in the verse Proverbs 20:19, “A gossip tells secrets, so don’t hang around with someone who talks too much.”
