One of the best ways to find out the type of family you want, is to look at what we don’t want. Sad but true.
You only have to look at the news once to see what you don’t want to be like. For some reason this seems to be glorified in our society through the media.
Then of course you can go to the beach, shopping centre, church, or many other public places and you’ll find plenty of parents who are doing a great job. I get inspiration from these places regularly.
The good news is that we do have a choice. We are in control of our destiny, and that of our family.
FACT V FICTION
There is a notion in western culture that in order to get ahead, you need to be self centred and cheat. It will cost you your family and often your relationship with your kids, and apparently by doing this, you can be truly fulfilled.
Of course a lot of this impression is from TV.
Many studies and people have refuted this not just in theory, but in practice.
The truth is, with solid family relationships, love, loyalty and a focus on others, that’s when true fulfilment comes.
As Zig Ziglar (a great example of this) said hundreds, if not thousands of times –
“you can get everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want”
WHAT THE RESEARCH PROVES
In the best selling book “The Millionaire Mind” written by Thomas J Stanley Ph.D. after studying millionaires, multi-millionaires and deca-millionaires, Thomas Stanley notes there are 5 key factors to success. Most of these will be in stark contrast to what we are led to believe through the media and what is portrayed in many movies.
These 5 qualities/traits according to this highly regarded research are:
- integrity – being honest with all people
- discipline – applying self control
- Social Skills – getting along with people
- A supportive spouse
- Hard Work – more than most people
Personally, I listen to a lot of podcasts, usually at least one per day, many of entrepreneurs and very successful people. Every one of these characteristics is highlighted by the hundreds of stories I’ve heard from these very successful people. .
With this new year, looking for the type of family you would like to create, the type of kids you want, and the type of parent you would like to be, would these 5 characteristics be a good place to start to build towards?
As Doc Emmett said at the end of Back to the Future, “…your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one”.
There is always hope!