An individual’s quality of life refers to their subjective measure of happiness and wellbeing. While many factors contribute to this such as financial security, status of health, personal safety and job satisfaction, family life has an extremely important role to play in an individual’s life both in terms of past patterns and future implications. A family provides for its members by looking out for their comfort and support, security, health and emotional wellbeing. This International Day of Families, let’s revisit our roots and explore the role it plays in enhancing quality of life.
Security. Family is a child’s first base of support. From the moment we are born, we rely solely on caregivers to provide us with nourishment, shelter, safety and comfort. As we grow up, this initial dependence takes on different forms such as needing financial or emotional help. As full-grown adults, we partake in a more mutual reciprocation of support. Having a secure base to operate from is an important part of an individual’s sense of wellbeing.
Freedom. As mentioned in the previous point, a healthy family plays an important protective role for everyone. However, if an individual feels stifled and is deprived of personal choices or the opportunity to form their own identity by being overprotected, this negatively affects quality of life. When given opportunities as well as the freedom to pursue important personal goals or explore meaningful possibilities, it provides the springboard to spread our wings as independent and healthy adults.
Social connection. While an overprotective family can cause problems, a neglectful one is equally damaging. We look to our families not only to provide for us physically or financially, but also emotionally. Family is our very first and one of life’s most significant social networks, that determines to a large degree how we will interact with the world as well as future family life. The emotional bonds we share with loved ones shape our social interactions, future relationships and our happiness.
Shared time. When we are young, we absorb what we see around us in terms of habits, relationships and lifestyle. As adults, we either unconsciously continue them or consciously choose our own path with our old families or the new ones we form as adults. The time we spend with our loved ones whether it is sitting down for a meal together, enjoying a shared activity like a game or a TV show plays a bigger role in our wellbeing than we give it credit for.
Healthy and happy relationships with our loved ones enrich us emotionally and give our lives joy and meaning. When we are surrounded by those we love and who love us back, family and home become almost synonymous. Although the definition of family today has expanded a great deal in recent decades from its traditional standpoint, it is nice to know that certain things remain the same: it keeps us rooted, gives us a safe base to fly from as well as to return to a place with people to call our own.