Coping....

So last week in class we talked about dealing with challenges. The reality of life is that we will all face challenges and difficulties. It is in how we react to those situations that determines what our experiences will be. So how can we  prepare our families for life's challenges effectively?

     1. Develop relationships: as you develop your relationship with your family members it fosters
         problem solving and conflict management. When you know that you are loved it is easier to
         handle challenges and even conflicts within the family.
     2. Celebrate and spend time together: celebrating special events helps to build emotional
         strength between loved ones. Shared activities help you to bond together, and learn to
         go to each other for support and comfort.
     3. Accept each family member for who they are: learn to love every individual and to accept
         their personality and behavior. Love is essential to coping with challenges.
  
And how do we cope with these challenges?

     1. Take responsibility: don't deny or avoid the problem, don't blame others or play the victim,
         and work to chart a new course to overcome the challenges you face.
     2. Affirm your own and your families worth: sometimes you may have to remind yourself
         that you and your family are important, and that you are capable of coping.
     3. Balance self-concern with other-concern: it's easy to become self-absorbed in the face of
         challenges, but it's important to remember that your family members are also struggling
         and they have needs too.
     4. Learn to "Reframe": change the way you look at the situation. Try to see the challenges
         you experience as an opportunity for growth and an obstacle to overcome.

I truly believe that we can get through all of life's challenges successfully. That is the purpose for which we are on this earth. We came here to have experiences - to learn and to grow, and to overcome challenges. If we learn to over come the natural man and consciously work to put our family first. If we can build our relationships and strengthen our families, challenges can help us to grow closer together and closer to our Heavenly Father, and can ultimately be a blessing in our lives. So here's to my "some day" family. I know there are a lot of challenges ahead, but I also know we can overcome them, and we'll be better for it.