We all want our families to be happy and healthy. In times of trouble, we run to our family members for support and for that much-needed boost of encouragement. Naturally, we want the best for them. With the ongoing crisis and beyond, people have placed more value in taking care of their loved ones. They may have gained a greater appreciation for what they have, or they simply want to reinforce and strengthen the bond that they already have. Here are three ways to help you do it.
Keeping Your Finances in Order
It has already been more than two decades since a large and well-known company launched one of the most famous slogans in credit card company history. Their catchy slogan captured what happiness is truly about — that there are just certain things in life that money can’t buy.
At the time and even now, it caught the imagination of the people. On the one hand, it made the public realize that money isn’t everything in life. There are also relationships, health, and those precious, special moments with your spouse and children. On the other hand, it highlighted that no matter how we choose to look at it, we still live in societies where financial resources are imperative, not only to spend on what we want but also to cover for the things we need.
If families are to survive, they need money. It is as straightforward a statement as you can ever make. As such, it is vital not only to have the means to make it. You also need the tools to keep it, nurture it, and make it grow. Whether it is to pay the bills or the mortgage, send the kids to college, or have something to rely on in times of emergency or tragedy, proper money management is an aspect of life nobody can ignore.
As a result, one of the best things you can do is start working with a reputable financial consultant as early as possible. The right individual will not only guide you on the right steps to take but also help you ensure a bright future for those you love.
Building Proper Healthy Habits
According to the United Nations, more than 41 million people die of non-communicable diseases, or NCDs, every year. This accounts for an astounding 71% of the total global deaths. Even more shocking is the fact that 15 million people perish before the age of 69, and, in most cases, 85% of these premature deaths occur in countries with low to middle income. To put things in perspective, COVID-19, the global pandemic that has ravaged the planet in the last year and a half, is not a non-communicable disease.
Of course, NCDs stem from a variety of factors, including genetics and preexisting conditions triggered by specific surrounding environments. For example, someone with a genetic predisposition for lung cancer can get sick due to exposure to high levels of air pollution or if he works in a factory under less than ideal health and safety regulations.
Nevertheless, the biggest influencers to NCDs, better known as chronic illnesses, are modifiable behaviors and metabolic risks. What this means is that, generally speaking, people can avoid maladies like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. All it takes is adequate health and eating habits.
Physical health is arguably the number one gift parents can give their children. It is neither expensive nor difficult. So why not do it? Why not give your children the best chance at happiness and success?
Resilience and Open Communication
As long as we are alive, we will struggle. If we are not going through financial difficulty, we will probably encounter problems with our parents and children, friends and colleagues, and significant others. If that is not the case, maybe somebody we care about is sick, or we are frustrated with how our careers are panning out.
Still, there is value to it. Suffering is never meaningless or without purpose. It builds character and helps us be grateful and appreciate the things we have. It also gives us the tools to innovate and improve. Finally, it enhances the bonds with the people we care about and those who care about us. It filters out important relationships from those that are not worth keeping.
As families, our goal is to support each other in times of need, be strong when other members are weak, and vice versa. Otherwise, it would be much better to be alone.
Therefore, we should let our children know that they are not by themselves. We should let them know that we are here for them and that we are willing to listen to whatever they want to say whenever they want to say it. Whether problems are big or small, we can act on them and figure them out as a family unit if we can openly communicate them and have someone to trust.
Three essential tips to building better families are having a sound financial plan that includes savings and growth, building proper health habits in children at a young age, and fostering resilience and open communication in the household. They will not only help us be stronger in the face of challenges but also make our journeys through life easier and more enjoyable.
