“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
– Mother Teresa
Our family members are supposed to be the persons closest to us. They are the people we expect to be there for us during life’s ups and downs. But as they say, familiarity breeds contempt so it is common for many families to deal with issues such as marital fights and sibling rivalry. Still, just because they are common does not mean you have to accept the presence of these problems in your family. Especially because there are many things you can do to reduce and resolve family conflicts. The following are a few ways to maintain a happy and peaceful home:
Maintain clear communication.
Many arguments arise when people are not aware of the things they can and cannot do. This is why parents or elders need to establish rules within the family and make sure each member understands the consequences of not adhering to it. Aside from being aware of rules, it is likewise important that everyone agrees to it. With good communication, people will avoid accidentally doing something that can result in misunderstandings and disagreements. You can also avoid instilling feelings of inequality or hatred in a family. In the long run, effective communication also serves as a key to nourishing relationships.
Control your response to situations.
Although some things that happen to us are beyond our control, we can always choose the way we respond to situations. In the family, it is tempting to simply burst in anger whenever siblings engage in fights or when a spouse commits mistakes. However, allowing your emotions to get the better of you may aggravate rather than solve the problems at hand. You can get better results by stopping a while to pacify your nerves before tackling the conflict. With a cool head, you can encourage others to stop fighting or calmly talk about the issue. This approach also allows parents to show their kids a good example of how to manage conflicts.
Manage stress.
It is not okay to be constantly under a lot of stress because aside from being physically unhealthy, it can also ruin your relationships with others. Furthermore, people who are stressed tend to have short patience and make bad decisions. This means that if you do not find ways to manage stress, you may end up releasing all that pent-up emotions at home. If you do not want to bring stress at home, find ways to distress and unwind after a long day. You will also benefit from learning how to say no to certain obligations or requests when you know too well that it will take a toll on your well-being.
Appreciate one another.
There may be times when we get annoyed by our siblings or spouse but at the end of the day, it will do you good to realize that they are the constant in your life. It is therefore worth the effort to be extra patient and tolerant with them. You may also want to be generous when showing appreciation to family members. You will surely have lesser conflicts if your home is overflowing with love and care from one another.
Conflicts may seem to be an inevitable part of family life. However, instead of seeing it as something that tears relationships apart, it is much better to look at it as something that can further tighten family bonds.
