Embracing Your Family Stories
The genealogy journey is one fraught with unexpected discoveries and stories. As you delve deeper into family history and past stories, there can often be positive and negative surprises that shift your perspective of yourself and the world around you. As you learn about the past, you can choose to create a future that your descendants can be proud of and, in so many ways, come to understand yourself better and grow as an individual.
Growing From Your Ancestor's Experiences
No matter your age or experience with family history, putting the experiences of your ancestors into context and examining how their experiences have shaped your life can give you strength during tough times.
One way family history can strengthen us in tough times is through the concept of “ancestor salience.” By exploring your ancestors' stories, you can gain perspective and resilience in facing your own challenges. Reflecting on your lineage and the trials and triumphs of those who came before you can foster a sense of belonging and purpose.
The Power of Family History
We all have inspiring stories from our ancestors. One client looked to his grandfather, a remarkable man who overcame significant adversity. Despite a challenging upbringing marked by poverty and loss, his grandfather went on to serve as a distinguished pilot in World War II and achieve entrepreneurial success. This rich family history showcases resilience and serves as a source of inspiration.
As you think back on your family tree, you might ask yourself:
- What trials and struggles did my ancestors face?
- How did they overcome adversity?
- What aspects of their personalities and characteristics have I inherited?
- How can I learn from their experiences to grow in my current situation?
By reflecting on our family stories, we can create new feelings of nostalgia, confidence, and gratitude that can guide our actions today. Nostalgia for our roots can instill a sense of calm, while confidence derived from our ancestors' accomplishments can drive us forward. Gratitude for the sacrifices made by those who came before us can bolster our resolve and willpower under challenging circumstances.
Get to Know Your Stories
Rather than just focusing on completing your family tree, learn about the people behind the names. What do you actually know about your ancestors? How many full stories can you retell? Nothing is more captivating than sharing true stories about people who have shaped who you are and where you are today.
Sometimes, the challenges you face today can feel overwhelming or discouraging. But knowing that your ancestors made it through challenging times and thrived can help you have hope and determination to push through and find meaning and happiness in the everyday.
The Impact of Family History on Young People
In the late 90s, psychologists Marshall Duke and Robyn Fivush of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, asked 48 families 20 questions about their family history. They found that the more the children knew, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned.
“Hearing these stories gave the children a sense of their history and a strong ‘intergenerational self.' Even if they were only nine, their identity stretched back 100 years, giving them connection, strength and resilience,” Duke said.
When we share these family stories with the younger generation, they benefit emotionally and are better able to handle the challenges that come their way.
How to Get Started
There are so many ways to start sharing your family narratives and create positive change in your life and the lives of your family. Here are a few ways to get started:
- Join the Family History Month Challenge
- Check out this article, which contains simple family history activities.
- Interview an aging family member and capture their stories via video or audio.
- Write your own stories down for future generations.
When times are tough, we see the most growth. By connecting and relating to our ancestors and seeing how they overcame challenges, we have greater power to transform our experiences into sources of strength.
To learn more about your family history, contact us for a free research quote.
Leave a Reply