FAMILY NARRATIVE | The Present

Strengthen Your Family Through Mission & Brand

If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for ways to foster better mental health for your kids and create a stronger, happier family environment. I also happen to have a passion for small business and entrepreneurship. Today, let’s dive into how we can combine my favorite worlds of business and family by becoming a mission driven family by doing a Family Branding Lab!

Now, you might be wondering, “What does branding have to do with my family?”

Well, just as small businesses start with central questions like “What are we here to do?” and establish core beliefs that shape their mission, families can benefit from asking similar questions to define their own identity and values.

The Power of Branding

How can we ask our children to uphold our family's values if we never articulate what those values are?

Bruce Feiler - The Secrets of Happy Families

The Importance of Family Identity

It's foundational.

Creating a strong family identity is crucial in shaping a child's self-identity in a healthy way.

When children understand who they are as part of a family unit, they feel secure and grounded, which lays the groundwork for better mental health.

Taking the time to define these qualities isn’t just an exercise; it’s foundational.

In fact, you can achieve more good for your kids through a few sessions of Family Branding Lab than many therapy appointments with a trained psychologist. You are the ultimate expert on your family, and the time, energy, and effort you invest in building a rich family narrative will pay off in ways that far exceed the moments spent driving to a therapist's office.

It's scientific.

Don't just take my word for it. There is a whole body of scientific, peer reviewed research about the role narrative and messaging play in future outcomes - including wellbeing, life satisfaction, and belief systems. 

Here is some food for thought.

"Social identity theory postulates that people tend to view themselves as belonging to specific (identity) groups and when they do so, they tend to behave and accept beliefs according to the perceived ‘standards’ of their group." 

- Sergey Gavrilets & Peter J. Richerson in Authority matters: propaganda and the coevolution of behaviour and attitudes -

Read their full study here.

If this is true, shouldn't the first (and most important) identity group introduced to our kids be their very own family? Shouldn't we clearly set the standards for which we operate? How many families do this...almost none. Think about your own familly growing up - can you say with clarity what your own parents believed and valued most?

"Family-based interventions can help prevent the onset of mental health conditions and mitigate its consequences."

-S Marth, N Cook, P Bain and J Lindert in Oxford Journals, The European Journal of Public Health

 Family factors contribute to mental health conditions – a systematic review -

This is a resulting statement from a study that comprehensively evaluated 40 studies on family and mental health. You can read the study here.

Shouldn't every family implement these interventions to set forth a strong foundation for strong relationships and well-being - before bringing in outside "experts" or resorting to medications? But hardly any do.

Our culture jumps to the "quick fix" of therapy or meds rather than recognizing their own power in the trajectory of their family. A power that far exceeds what any stranger can do for your kids in terms of setting them up for success.

Welcome to your Family Branding Lab!

Let’s treat your family like a brand! Becoming a mission driven group that has determined and clearly communicated values and goals. These principles will be your guide for how your family acts, operates, makes decisions and relate to each other.

Here are some DIY questions to kickstart your Family Branding Lab:

Want to do a Family Branding Lab but feel a little overwhelmed?

I'm a mom of five, I get it. Planning meaningful family experiences is fun and rewarding. But anything that can make it easier to execute is something I appreciate. That's why I made a playbook for Family Branding called The Family Branding Guide.

Practical and actionable, this step-by-step guide will give you all the tools to execute your own Family Branding Lab and be well on your way to being a mentally strong, mission driven family.

Get the guide as a stand alone purchase or as part of a narrative membership.