We love our families and even in the best of families there are challenges. Few of us have the fairy tale family in which nothing ever goes wrong. Challenges we face can range from simple differences of opinion to down right dysfunction.

In my coaching practice I have found most of my clients experience some sort of family challenges. Many times in the process of working with clients during the Life On Purpose Process the subject of family comes up. Most often it is how their family doesn’t support their decisions or understand them. Very often family members mean well and want to protect their loved ones but the way they go about it leaves the person feeling misunderstood, unloved or cast aside. All this in the name of protecting them. Ever have this experience?

I have a client who had this very issue. She wanted a new career and adventure in her life. She worked diligently in preparing to leave her job to explore new possibilities. All that was left was to tell her family about this new chapter in  her life. She found them to be naysayers, telling her terrible things that could happen to her and all the reasons why she shouldn’t take this on. The finally asked her what was wrong with her anyway. After that visit with family imagine how she felt. She didn’t want to ever go back or share what she about her life ever again. They were treating her like she was still twelve years old and not the mature thirty year old woman she was.

She was still committed to changing careers and through our coaching a new possibility opened up for her. She was able to identify what kept her stuck in this pattern with her family and how she could communicate to them in such a way so that they might be able to support her in her endeavors. She was surprised at their reaction when she used the new communication skills she learned in the coaching. They understood how much this new change meant to her. Feeling connected and understood she no longer had to avoid spending time with her family.

There are many ways in which we can deal with families. We can keep on doing what we have always done hoping for different results, or we can give up and avoid them as much as possible, or learn how to deal with it in a powerful and effective way. While not always easy this latter choice can lead to powerful and satisfying relationships in our families.

For my client, clarifying her life purpose lead to much more than she was expecting. She not only clarified her life purpose but she also learned how to be her true self with her family. She was no longer stuck  being treated like a child with her parents.

What would be possible in your life and with your family if you were to uncover what has been keeping you stuck and then clarified your Divinely Inspired Life Purpose through the Life on Purpose Virtual Video coaching program? Instead of taking years to do this on your own, how would you like to clarify your life purpose in a few weeks on your own schedule. You can even hire a coach to help you if you don’t want to have to do it all on your on. There is support and we are here for you. If this is something you might be interested in then check out our Start Your Year On Purpose offer. 2014 can be your most purposeful and passion-filled year yet.