Recognizing your Family’s Strengths and Sense of Purpose

It takes strength, dedication, and love to choose a life of service while building a family. What you are doing is probably the most challenging and rewarding life possible in this country. To be successful in creating the life you wish for you and your family means taking time to appreciate this decision and the strength it takes to thrive as a military family.

There is a growing mindset in this country about happiness – “finding your bliss.” People are trying to create a life without challenge or strife so they can be happy. But, many realize something is missing. I bet you know the answer: happiness comes from knowing who you are. The calm that comes from knowing you can maintain your inner sense of yourself no matter what life throws you. A grace that comes from knowing you have the strength to thrive because you’ve been tested and you met the challenge.

I’ve coached many people who refuse to face their life challenges because they believe they shouldn’t have challenges, just easy decisions and a path without obstacles. On the other hand, though, they are wishing to live a meaningful life. They just don’t wish to connect the dots that most military families connected long ago.

You have chosen to live a meaningful life. You’ve chosen to know the fulfillment, and pride of building a family with the support of the military family community. You’ve chosen a life of service. Not a career, but a lifestyle within the structure of the largest and strongest organization in the world – except for probably facebook.

Military Family Life Tests the Strength of Everything

• Military service tests the depth of commitment between husband and wife.
• It demands a high level of cooperation and support from family members.
• Military families must be more resourceful with their time and money.
• Life before, during, and after deployments requires all family members to exercise patience, creativity, compassion, discipline, humor, and faith.
• Emotional stamina and stability play critical roles in keeping issues in their proper perspective.

Exercise:

Family Sense of Purpose

Redefining your family’s sense of purpose as you life through the changes that military life brings can me the best way to build and maintain a strong family bond. Conducing a family meeting to talk about your family’s sense of purpose before, during, and after deployments will help your family stay resilient as each family member changes emotionally.

During this meeting, let each member share what he or she considers the strengths of each family member. Next, allow each person to say what is important in his or her lives. As the rest of the family listens, remember to not discount or criticize. Remember, that love for each other is at the center of a strong military family. Next, let each family member share what he or she can do to support what is important for the others. From that you will be able to agree upon and write down your family’s new sense of purpose.

You might even post it on the refrigerator as a reminder of how all of you are working together to live meaningful lives.