"Funny how your quality of life improves dramatically when you surround yourself with good, intelligent, kind-hearted , positive, loving people." Author Unknown
Having a special needs child often involves 24/7 care and so finding time to go hang out with friends can sometimes slip to a non essential, thus becoming non existent.
Not that we don't have friends anymore, but having quality time to hang out with them can be a challenge to say the least.
In this blog post, I want to share just how important it is to make sure to surround yourself with positive, kind hearted, happy and loving people, even if you can only visit over the phone and not in person anymore.
Surrounding yourself with positive and uplifting people will have a huge effect on your life as well as your ability to be a better parent.
Jim Rohn said "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."
I couldn't agree more!
We pick up on both little and big things from people we spend the most time with. It's hard not to. From the way they talk, to their outlook on life, to working toward our goals and achieving them vs. being non productive.....(hello Netflix!)
It doesn't mean we become a different person. We just may lower our standards of how we eat or are beliefs on a particular subject or things like that. Things that at the time don't seem like a big deal.
Maybe some of the differing view points Aren't a big deal, but then again, maybe they ARE!
On the contrary, surrounding ourselves with positive, productive and happy people can also help us set higher goals and view life from a different perspective. Often it can help us think outside the box, which can be really helpful at times.
I have recently been reading a Wonderful book by Jennifer Allwood (@jenniferallwood) called "Fear is not the boss of you" I would highly recommend you read it if you are looking for a good book to read.
In her book, she says "You can't be around brave people and not eventually have it wear off on you. This is why who is in your circle is so important. As I tell my kids, show me your friends and I'll show you your future. So consider the people around you carefully, including the people you interact with online."
So even if you find that you aren't able to go out much, it's important to be aware of who you spend the majority of your time interacting with from day to day.
If you find that your closest friends or family are really negative and tend to complain more than not, you may want to seriously consider limiting how much time you spend talking with them.
I am not in any way suggesting that you cut off all contact with negative people. Instead, I am just encouraging you to limit the amount of time you spend with them.
Make a focused effort to reach out to and surround yourself with at least 5 people who are happy, positive, encouraging and who lift you up.
It's hard enough to deal with all of the many daily challenges we face as parents with special needs kids.
There is so much that is totally out of our control.
But one thing we CAN control is the people we surround ourselves with, both in person as well as online.
If you don't happen to know of very many positive and uplifting people who live near you, you might consider joining a Facebook group for parents with special needs kids.
As a matter of fact, I have started a private Facebook group for parents with special needs kids and if you are a parent with a special needs child, I would love nothing more than to have you join us! đ
Itâs called âNourishing the Soul of the Special Needs Parent.â
I created this private Facebook group for parents with special needs kids, so that we could have a safe and private environment and community to share the ups and downs we face from day to day and so that we can encourage each other.
Also to realize that you are NOT alone.
We ALL need a good support system.
We all have good days and bad days and sometimes it is really nice to be able to share those joys and hard times with other parents who are in a very similar situation.
It is extremely important to me that everyone who joins the private Facebook group feel warmly welcomed, safe and 100% supported.
But even if you decide not to join our private Facebook group, there are lots of other Facebook groups full of love and support out there.
I would really encourage you to get connected with other people who are happy more than not and who lift you up and encourage you.
There is no need to feel alone.
There is no need to wish there was someone out there who really cared.
There is no need to struggle to research online questions you have about your special needs child, when there are other parents who are going through or have likely gone through something similar to what you are facing right now.
All you have to do is reach out. We are here for you!
Just click the link below if you are interested in joining our private Facebook group for parents with special needs kids.
In conclusion, be careful who you surround yourself with....in person, online, music you listen to as well as the shows and movies you watch.
Be mindful as to your emotions afterwards. Does it leave you feeling better afterwards or worse? Happy or sad? Calm or mad?
Make sure that the five people you spend the most time with are people who put a smile on your face and leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.đđ
Let me know in the comments below, who are some of the people in your life who bring you the most joy?
~ If you are a parent of a special needs child, I would Love to have you in my private FB group. It is a safe environment, strictly for parents with special needs kids, where you can get the encouragement and support from other parents who can relate to what you are going through. The name of my private FB group is âSpecial Needs Parenting SOS.â ~ đđ