DISCOVER THE REAL YOU - HOW TO BREAK GENERATIONAL CYCLES

Individual family culture is the result of its environment or choices; this may include values, decision making skills as well as priorities.

One’s dysfunctional personal behavior may become a model or example to the next generation and the cycle can be repeated over so many years. A huge part of what keeps destructive behavior going is individuals who don’t know they are dysfunctional and don’t know they don’t know. http://theyoungperson.blogspot.com/2015/08/who-are-you.html

How to break generational cycles

·      Beware of the healthy and the unhealthy ways of living

This makes you aware of what is wrong or right so that you can make your choices right. We can not control dysfunctional family behavioral patterns but we can control our choices and this will create a change in the generations to come.

·      Interact with other people from other families

Observe and compare and this will make you realize if there is something weird about you and what makes them different.

If you grew up in a family with negative traits you may end up thinking that it is normal and that is how things are meant to be done unless you interact with other people from other families. Am not saying that those other families are better than yours but by interacting you will help build each other because no one is perfect. 

·      Identify and beware of your family’s destructive behavior patterns

Once you know what is right or wrong then it will be easy to identify the destructive behavior patterns in your family because it is hard to change what you are not aware of.

·      Evaluate your present relationships

Are you sensitive to the other party’s feelings? Is the relationship smooth and beneficial to both parties? Do you know what healthy boundaries are and do you keep them? And above all would the other party feel or answer the same?

Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t like done unto you.

·      Be responsible for your own actions, attitudes, beliefs and emotions.

Learn to control your anger so that you don’t do/say something and later say that, “it runs in the family and I just can’t control it”. You have all the power over what you do or say.

You can choose to change your negative mindset whether it runs in the family or not because you are the only one who knows the negative impact negative mindset is bringing to your life.

Take responsibility of your actions, we all make mistakes but what makes the difference is how handle it.

·      Be patient with yourself and others

By being patient proves that you understand that people were brought up in different backgrounds, therefore you will not try to force them to be what you want them to be. All you have to do is be a good example and they will admire what is in you and would eventually want to change on their own.

On the other hand, don’t be too hard on yourself; learn from your mistakes and always make an effort to improve.

Just think about it, why would you continue in unhealthy habits that you know will eventually bring damage to you or even your next generation. We should all strive to bring up a better generation than ours. It doesn’t mean that this generation has to be your children, but even people who look up to you; be a good example.