Marriage Minded Part #2 - Create your family mission statement.

Now that you have sat your partner down and hashed out how each others needs can be satisfied, it’s important to create a vision statement.
Sometimes we view marriage like going on a cross country trip. When we first set out on our destination, we make sure the car is cleaned, and polished, and running properly. As we continue on our journey, as long as we get gas and make it to our final destination that’s all we concentrate on, we don’t take the time to recheck the tires, the oil and keep the car looking nice and polished. And even more tragic event is when we see the warning light come on and we choose to ignore it. Then we are angry, or dismayed that the car breaks down.

Creating and living your family mission statement can remind you of the periodic tune-ups you need in your marriage to keep it running smoothly.

Franklin Covey, author of the “7 Habits of Highly Effective Families” has designed components around creating a family mission statement.

According to Covey, an effective family mission statement focuses on the 10 principles.
• Passion – what do we love to do together?
• Helping – how can we better help each other as a family?
• Contribution – what can we contribute to others and how can we help people outside our family?
• Conscience – are there things we should change as a family even though we have ignored them?
• Influence – what type of legacy do we want to leave about our family 30 years from now?
• Ideals – if our home could be filled with one emotion, what would it be?
• Principles – what principles are values do we want our family to operate on?
• Balance – based on these dimensions (Physical, Spiritual, Mental/Emotional) how can we have balance in these four categories?
• Vision – how do we envision each member of our family to be in the future? What have we accomplished, how do we see ourselves?

If this is an opportunity you would like to explore with your spouse and/or your entire family, or if you have a question regarding where your marriage is headed and you want to talk to a certified relationshio coach, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at strive2succeed@comcast.net.

I have coached couple’s on clarifying their vision for the present and the future.

It’s a wonderful process that will carry you on that successful journey of marriage.

Keith Dent
Strive 2 Succeed Coach Services
Certified Relationship Coach