The love we have for the members of our family goes far beyond a group hug or cooking their favorite meals. Yes, it’s important we let them know how much they mean to us every day. But often it’s hard to come up with more significant ways to show love to our family.
While small gestures go a long way, there are several bigger picture ways in which we can express our appreciation for those special people in our lives.
Place emphasis on their mental health
When discussing family health, our physical well-being is often the first thought that comes to mind. Our eating habits, fitness routines, and sleep schedules all play a part in impacting our bodies.
However, other ways to show love for our family members emphasize their mental health needs.
This includes not only watching for changes or shifts in behaviors and attitudes but proactively talking to our children about their mental health, as well as our partners. Engaging in conversation about each other’s headspaces can transform the way families are able to understand and communicate with each other at the next level.
Consider long-term planning solutions
While we’re trying to express love to our family members, we must include making sure we are thinking about the long-term. This is just as important as the short-term. Immediate results from our efforts may provide instant gratification, such as small material gifts or fun vacations.
But taking responsibility for our family members beyond our time can offer a more profound sense of fulfillment.
While it is certainly difficult to imagine living without our loved ones, it is critical to stay ahead of life’s surprises by planning out your life insurance policies and establishing up-to-date wills. It may be an awkward topic, but viewing it as an empowering opportunity to recognize our families’ worth is a clear way to show you value them.
Take an interest in their interests
It’s no secret that many times family members are diverse in their personalities and interests. Regardless of these differences, going out of your way to show that you acknowledge, and even support, their passions can lead to better relationships.
Is someone in your family struggling to figure out where they thrive? Offer to explore new hobbies with them.
Nothing says love like helping someone reach their full potential and find their sense of belonging.
Similarly, partaking in these activities together lends to higher quality bonding time and an opportunity to make new memories.
Notice (and embrace) their changes
There are many reasons people hate change. And despite those reasons, change is always inevitable within families. We all grow and go through different stages of life. Learning to accept each person through their changes opens a pathway to a more selfless type of love.
Whether you have a child going through puberty and hormonal changes or are dealing with a financially stressful situation that causes strain, understanding that circumstances can shift while still uplifting the members of your family is necessary.
While this can certainly be challenging, it’s also a rewarding way to be there for them, and in turn lead to more ways to show love.
The immense love we have for our family is so unique. It can be the easiest thing to experience, yet much harder to share.
Work these meaningful practices into your life to help communicate that intense appreciation you hold for them.