Family LifeSkills is a program to strengthen and enrich how family members interact -- with the purpose of making each person and the family as a whole as psychologically as strong as possible.

Introduction  |  Developing Your Life Skills

Introduction

This is taken from a series of nine mailings that can strengthen your ability to communicate well with those close to you (and yourself).

Many times families become blocked in their relationships by hurt, anger, mistrust and confusion. These blockages are natural and normal, and families are few who do not have at least a small collection of them.

But it is possible, with a few simple changes in the way we look at the world and deal with other people, to create happier, more stable relationships.

Families need to be units of mutual caring and support; they can be sources of life-long strength for the individual. It is never too late to begin the process of improving family relationships — even if they are already of good quality — by developing some simple skills.

As with learning to ride a bicycle, such skills once learned last a lifetime —and will enhance future personal (and professional) relationships. They are easy, and only take some thought, patience and a little time. Here are some ways to best use the Family LifeSkills program:

• Pass each tip sheet or newsletter around to each family member, then post in a visible location, or leave them lying around. (Collect all eight that will be mailed to you.)
  
  
• Ask, "Would it be helpful or fun to try some of these out?" It’s not enough to "know" the concepts; they need to be practiced!
  
  
• Think to yourself about the issues covered: "How do they apply to my family situation or my life?" Arrange times to discuss the ideas covered with friends and family members.
  
  
• Think and talk about broader questions in your life, such as: "What do I want and need from family and other close relationships?" "What specific things can I do to give others what they need?" (Try "putting yourself in the shoes" of other family members.)

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Developing Your Life Skills

Files are in Adobe Acrobat format and require the Free Acrobat Reader.

• Introduction
  
• Being an Anger Tamer
  
• Beyond the Blame Barrier
  
• The Power of Showing You Care
  
• Six Tricks of Communicating
  
• Taking Care of Business
  
• Taking Care of Yourself
  
• Being a Skilled Negotiator
  
• Family Problem Solving

Last reviewed March 2009
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