Focus on the Family Presents Essentials of Marriage: Who Did You Really Marry? Participant's Guide

The term "family values" has become a pop phrase in contempo years. These values define what is meaningful to your family unit—the beliefs and ideas that bind your family together. Different families effectually the world value different ethics and beliefs, but most families can boil down their primary values to plumbing equipment within the following categories.

What Are Family Values?

Moral Values
Personal Conduct and Social Behavior
Spiritual and Religious Values
Family Piece of work Ethic
Educational Values
Family Time
Family Traditions
Financial Values
Family Health and Fitness
Family Amusement (TV, Movies, Cyberspace, Music, etc.)

No matter your definition of family, a set of family values provides a moral compass, clearly articulating the attitudes and meanings your family assembly with living their lives. These family beliefs define what you recall is important and what is good. They help teach kids the divergence betwixt correct and wrong. They are beliefs and ideas that are specific to your specific family life–and in that location's no definitive, objective right or wrong. Values vary from household to household and order to lodge–and even from time period to time period throughout history.

Humans within societal relationships are constantly evolving, and the ideals and standards nosotros care near continue to change over fourth dimension. The traditional family values of the 1950s are very different from the traditional family values of a post-nine-11 American society. Family unit values are always reflective of their times and environments, yet about cultures surprisingly share several common threads when it comes to basic values and morals.

No child is born with a ready of values. Children must be taught these values by our families, friends, and larger communities. We continually pass down our values to the next generations, so information technology's of import to be clear about the things nosotros care about and what we teach our children and grandchildren to care about likewise. Your family unit members volition be exposed to many types of values through their friends, co-workers, teachers, and society in general. The more children know nearly their own family's values, the better able they are to discuss them with others. Knowledgeable and careful children volition besides be more probable to exist respectful of others' values and family unit norms.

Family Values: The Foundation of a Strong Family

Ultimately, your family values will exist specific to you and your family unit. They represent the ways you want to live your family life, and they may have been passed down through multiple generations throughout the decades. Knowing what a family–both the nuclear family and extended family–values can help solidify bonds among family members. Family unit values assistance kids and young men and women make good choices because they take a set of beliefs to aid guide them.

Moral Values

Moral values often ascertain a cadre personal ethic that drives how a family–and each parent and child inside that family unit – make their fashion in social club, knowing the deviation betwixt "correct" and "incorrect." General concepts like kindness, integrity, honesty, generosity, courage, patience, and justice can often be categorized every bit moral examples that a family may share. In a child's early years, moral values are shaped primarily by the parents, siblings, and relatives. These morals continue to be refined through exposure to other moral compasses through spiritual grooming, school, popular culture, and social interaction with others. Taking responsibility for one's actions is also typically considered a moral value.

Personal Conduct and Social Behavior

Many times, these values guide the fashion nosotros treat others and how we stand upward for those who demand help within gild. Equally role of kid rearing and parenthood, we oftentimes teach our children that nosotros want them to be "adept." Defining good behaviors and leading by case can go a long way toward making sure those values eventually go intrinsic in our children. Some examples of social behaviors many families care about include being a good listener, sharing, and showing empathy to others, along with a concern for their welfare. When it comes to our closest relationships, our values can help shape what information technology means to be a good hubby, a good wife, a good parent, and a good sibling. Values give usa a roadmap to developing healthy relationships.

Social behavior values shape the manner in which we comport ourselves in personal interactions and as productive members of a greater society. Showing respect for women, elders, and authority figures, treating people with kindness, and standing upwards for those who can't stand up up for themselves are often central behavioral values for families. These values help teach children to go along their composure when things don't always become their style, which tin can foster patience and resilience.

Spiritual and Religious Values

Some of the strongest families share a conventionalities in something greater than themselves. They find spirituality to exist a pregnant source of family force. Spiritual and religious values can vary widely, depending on the family, simply many faith traditions tend to share mutual moral values. Compassion is often associated with spiritual and religious values, equally is the desire to abound in faith and knowledge. Spiritual and religious values can as well influence other values–like moral values and social behavior. For example, many young men and women of Christian faith may follow specific guidelines for Christian dating in order to foster a relationship that's consistent with their faith.

Most faith traditions too emphasize service, prayer, and customs fellowship, so these may all exist qualities a family unit holds love if spiritual and religious values are at the centre of its values. At the heart of most spiritual and religious value systems is the importance of worship and fellowship, so spending fourth dimension with others in your faith customs tin help solidify your family unit's spiritual and religious values. And whatever your organized religion tradition, conventionalities in a college power and the promotion of spirituality tin provide your family unit with a sense of direction and unity. Our spiritual values can guide everything from our approach to matrimony and parenting to how we value friendship and how we care for others within our communities.

Family Piece of work Ethic

Many families consider a stiff work ethic to exist an of import family value. A family unit'due south work ethic tin can shape everything from the way a kid views schoolwork to the manner anybody in the family approaches their careers, their finances and working together as role of a squad. Achievement is a key element of a strong piece of work ethic, and many families focus on achieving success–as they define it–through their professional piece of work.

Contributing to the family's success through everything from chores to weighing in on family decisions can assistance a household larn how to function effectively as part of a family unit unit–with the welfare and success of the group outweighing individual success.

Volunteerism is a work ethic that is more simply working difficult. The concept of volunteering ane's time and talents is a fundamental work ethic value for some families. Families strengthen their relationships, learn new skills, and teach each other the value of hard work by setting time bated to volunteer together. When family members spend quality time together finding artistic solutions to challenging tasks, to the do good others, they create life-long family memories that form the foundation of the family unit values they pass on to their descendants. These families value piece of work that matters most and supports the greater proficient–non work that simply provides a paycheck. They're moved to serve a higher goal through their work, and this value remains central to how they determine fields of study, careers, and professions.

Educational Values

Near enquiry indicates that a good education tin assist ensure a more stable and enjoyable life. For many families, the hazard at a good pedagogy is a priority that drives many family decisions. And with didactics comes the idea of lifelong learning–information technology isn't only nigh the importance of school. Typically, families who value the idea of education also value intrinsic qualities similar curiosity and appetite. They appreciate the desire to constantly larn more than about the world and to learn the level of cognition needed to achieve the goals they set for themselves.

Families who hold education as a cardinal value may read together, and in full general, invest heavily in books. They may visit museums, libraries, and lectures together or even take classes together within their communities when possible.

Family Time

It may seem similar a given that all families prioritize family unit time, but this isn't always the case. Especially as children get older, reaching their teenage and young adult years, it can exist important to prioritize family unit fourth dimension as a key value for your family. Family time looks like many unlike things for unlike families–maybe information technology'southward planning at least ane family vacation together every year, or scheduling a family unit game nighttime or movie dark each week. Many families insist on at least i meal together every bit a family every day. And for some families, the practice of a regular family meeting is a way to ensure quality family time together, discussing major issues and decisions that affect the whole family. Spending time together encourages companionship, strengthens a matrimony, and helps grade stronger bonds between siblings and the unabridged family.

There are and so many dissimilar, creative ways to carve out family fourth dimension. Let your family unit know that spending time together is a priority–everyone should be willing to accommodate schedules and brand time to simply be together, preferably engaging in an activity anybody finds fun and/or relaxing. Doing activities together creates both powerful bonds and powerful memories–ii important components of a strong family life.

1 way to improve family fourth dimension and family relationships is to identify each family fellow member'south love language–you can easily find this out by taking the love language quiz. And don't forget, information technology'south important for married couples to spend time together alone on a regular basis in order to nourish their marriage.

Family Traditions

For many families, traditions are an important value. Some families accept traditions that have been passed down for decades. Participating in the same formal or informal rituals and observances is a powerful way to link your family together. Whether it'southward attending the Christmas Eve candlelight service each year, cooking hotdogs for the neighborhood every Halloween, or staging a pajama dance political party to celebrate good report cards, the traditions you detect with your family can create powerful memories. They elevate even everyday experiences to something boggling and assistance hold the family unit together over time.

Financial Values

Many families identify a loftier priority on using their financial resources in means that assist them alive out their economic values. This includes setting careful guidelines for how much money to spend, how much should be regularly saved, and how much should be used for tithing and philanthropic purposes. In addition, families sometimes set guidelines for exactly how they desire to spend their money. For instance, some families may consciously decide to spend their money on experiences, rather than things–choosing to use their economic resource on run a risk and travel rather than expensive gadgets, fancy houses, and new cars.

Other families may decide that the best use of their resources is to champion social justice causes and to invest in philanthropic organizations–both in their communities and around the world. Many families give meaning financial resources to their church, being disciplined most how they allocate their economic resources within the faith community. All these approaches express a certain blazon of family values–and information technology'southward like shooting fish in a barrel to see when people live out their values through their fiscal choices.

Family unit Health and Fitness

Families differ in their approach to health and fitness. For some families, diet and exercise are of utmost importance, while other families don't necessarily share this value. Many families approach wellness and fitness every bit a family affair–cooking healthy dinners together, for example, or going on family hikes or cycle rides. This allows a family to savour quality family unit time while engaging in a good for you recreational activity. These kinds of values help teach children and young people how to take care of themselves and their wellness later in life while allowing for a family to make powerful and valuable memories together.

Participating in recreational activities allows families to connect with each other–and often with nature as well. Spending time outdoors together in a salubrious activity gives families time to talk to each other without the distractions that their day-to-day life typically affords–like jobs, school, political issues, and the cyberspace. Exercise is important for both physical and mental well-being, and then making this a priority for your family unit can help instill those values for years to come up.

Family Entertainment (TV, Movies, Internet, Music, etc.)

How does your family have fun together? Entertainment values are an of import function of the fabric that constitutes your family unit life–and the memories you make for your family unit, especially while your children live at abode. Do you play board games together on weekends and holidays? Watch the latest superhero motion picture when it hits the theater? Listen to a particular type of music during dinner or on long road trips? Establishing that your children can have fun and enjoy appropriate entertainment with you and your entire family goes a long way toward helping them define and live their own amusement values well into the future.

What's the Difference Betwixt Family Values and Family unit Culture?

Family values and family culture are closely related, but there are some meaning differences. Values are intrinsic and securely held, while family unit culture is more than of the outward display of your family's personality and, aye, beliefs likewise. Values are expressed in your family civilisation, and vice versa. For instance, your family unit civilisation may be welcoming and fun-loving, while the values associated with that include community and hospitality. If your family unit holds beloved the thought of welcoming others into the fold and making them experience appreciated, then it'due south likely that your family culture will reflect that through feeling warm, friendly and inviting to others.

Think about information technology similar this: Your values indicate the cadre beliefs that y'all hold dearest, while your family culture is an outward manifestation of those values–it's how you live them. In other words, people should exist able to infer your values by the way they experience your family culture. Desire to place your family civilisation? Take a unique family culture assessment by Kinmundo.com, the family civilisation specialists, to find out which one of the 16 different family cultures your family belongs to. Each family unit member independently takes the quiz. The combined quiz results provide insights on how to improve family unit relationships that strengthen family values.

Which Family unit Values Are a Priority For Your Family?

Many families have non formally defined their core family values. If you oasis't yet gone through the exercise of setting priority family unit values, it's a worthwhile do, and it'southward never as well late to start. Doing so might seem intimidating or overwhelming, but you'll be glad you did it, and overall, it really isn't that difficult. To start, you lot tin can call a family meeting and assemble input (and fifty-fifty some debate) from everyone in your family about what's important to him/her and what they think your family unit should prioritize equally values overall.

You could outset off with a family mission statement–many families find success going this route. What kind of statement all-time defines what your family unit stands for and wants to achieve in the globe? How would you similar your family unit to be known and regarded within your customs? For some families, a strong work ethic is most important. For others, it's kindness or a life of service, and for others, it may be exploration and adventure. Take the time to become input from all family members nigh what you share in terms of core family unit values and then put those into your mission statement.

Talk near your strengths and weaknesses as a family unit–what practise y'all practice well, and where is there room for improvement? These are great places to start in defining how your family both fits into and stands out from your specific culture and within your gild. What words and phrases can describe your family unit as a group? If you need inspiration, you might desire to explore Bible verses well-nigh family unit or consult other books about faith and values.

If you really get stuck, you can too detect several values-based kits and activities on the market that provide exercises, questions, and tips about parenthood. They can assistance guide your family unit toward defining the values that are almost meaningful to you every bit individuals and as a grouping. Above all, your list of family values should reflect your family unit–it should exist similar no one else's. If your faith and spirituality are key to your family goals, then your list should reflect that. If you desire to travel with your family and see as much of the world equally possible, then information technology's one of your family values. And if yous're a family driven by social justice and service to the community, your list of values should reflect that, as well.

There'due south no ane right mode to develop a listing of values, and each family has a different set of values and political opinions. Happy families can be liberal or conservative, Republicans or Democrats, each with a unique set of values. In fact, a multifariousness of family unit values helps build stronger communities that work and alive together in peace and happiness.

Importance of Family Values

Our family unit values help u.s.a. shape our own personal values and morals–which in plow helps define who we are and how we make our way in society. When parents demonstrate that family values are of import, a child gets the structure and boundaries needed to find his or her ain place within those values and morals. Or, every bit the child gets older, to alter those values in social club to make them unique every bit the child matures and develops into a values-driven adult. Through values-based family life, our children learn to express themselves, to grow from their mistakes, to problem-solve and to develop all the abilities and skills that help them go productive members of the community.

It'south helpful to openly discuss family values that are important to yous and your children in order to conspicuously ascertain those family values you believe to be important. And one time y'all've identified your family values, you lot're far from finished–next comes the more complicated job of living and exemplifying each value. Considering our beliefs and our identities are closely intertwined, y'all may likewise want to re-evaluate your family values over time, to allow everyone's input into whether something you hold love as a family remains a positive influence over everyone and shapes their beliefs in a meaningful way.

Don't let your daily routine and the status quo arrive the mode of intentionally edifice stiff and meaningful family values. Offset with a family mission statement and weekly family gatherings to talk over important family topics. Write downwardly and document what is of import to your family. If you lot don't already have a defined set of family values, remember, there's no correct or wrong way to go nigh forming and documenting family unit systems that aid guide your family unit values. If you don't have well established value systems in your family, then it's fourth dimension to get started. Get forth, deed intentionally and accept conversations that will help your family define and alive your family values.

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Source: https://www.beliefnet.com/love-family/family-values.aspx