#119 Creating a Family Identity

This LOVE IS FEARLESS episode is for you if -  Conflict is killing you. You're seeing a pattern in your relationships, even with yourself. Whenever there's a disagreement, the result is deconstruction instead of constructive.  You know you have a new identity in Christ. You know the theology of grace. You know your new focus in life is love instead of avoiding sin. But when you're honest with yourself, your story goes around in the same cyclical protection patterns when life is difficult - and you feel stuck. You're confused about what to do with your emotions. You've lived for decades either letting emotions overwhelm you and everyone else in your story - or you've lived that long avoiding your emotions, which has only given your body one choice for dealing with other's emotions, and that's to avoid them, too. Neither choice is helping you grow - or helping your relationships grow.  In this episode, Doug and Janet start a new conversation about a great book - The Advantage - Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else in Business by Patrick Lencioni. Doug and Janet talk about writing a playbook for yourself and your family because creating clarity in your home can help your family grow instead of survive - or divide. We also share the playbooks we use for John 15 Academy, and this LOVE IS FEARLESS podcast - to guide our decisions and help us work smart while staying organizationally healthy. Janet offers to share her personal playbook when you sign up for her newsletter, THE CURATED LIFE. Listen now and linger in these TAKEAWAYS -  Seth Godin reminds us, "Every belief can feel mainstream if we immerse ourselves in it." Don't fall for the belief that relationships don't heal or that living in a deconstruction crisis is the only option for your marriage or family. Healing happens when you move closer together and return to the power and truth love offers instead of fear. Clarity at home is KEY. It's as essential as clarity about your own identity. Without a family identity and clarity about your values and goals, every crisis can destroy unity instead of building it.  John 15 Academy offers valuable resources to help families bring up children who explicitly and implicitly know that God is a Father who cares. Getting clear about God helps us all get clear about ourselves and others. Visit our website to benefit from all we offer.  Janet also shares this invitation - "Reach out if I can help your family find the clarity that helps you grow closer in hard times instead of falling apart. I have limited spots available on my consulting calendar. Send me an email today. [email protected] " Visit dicksonthreads.com to find LOVE IS FEARLESS hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, stickers, canvas bags, kitchen towels, and more! Start new conversations that help people fear less because their finding LOVE! Together, there is great hope.