Becoming A Happy Family « The Sacred Flight

Becoming A Happy Family

Pathways to the Family Soul

7602_Book Cover_R3a There is no perfect family. We are all works in progress. This book is a must read for anyone searching for answers to the family happiness puzzle, which in many ways is all of us. It serves as a guide to find the “sticky glue” that supports the family bond, to enhance the family’s spirit and energy and to deepen connections across the family network, which is today refreshingly diverse in membership and structure.

Every family has some degree of imbalance, some more than others, and every reader of this book can gain a clearer picture of how to nurture happiness, care for a family’s soul and, just as importantly, engage and encourage other family members in this quest.

You can’t touch the soul of the family, but you are touched by it every day. Family soul is the memories and traits that make the family unique, including rituals, stories, experiences, conflicts and love. It is the family’s complex network of relationships, values and activities. It is how we talk, feel and interact when we’re together. You will learn how to:

Fortify the family soul with six vitamins or strengtheners—humor, emotion, acceptance, renewal, togetherness and struggle
Identify and applaud the “caretaker”—the champion of the family soul
Use the happiness tool kit—ten tangible ways to help families think and do differently
Recognize and apply practices that are integral to carving out happy and dynamic families: start a family of one’s own, welcome in-laws and special people, bond with friends, discover a soul friend and add pets to the scene

The exercises and tools are practical, accessible and easy to implement. The author weaves together dozens of colorful, funny and tender anecdotes that surfaced in her research, with illustrations that capture their spirit and theme. Written with empathy and good humor, the inspiring ideas and tips found here will motivate you to listen selflessly, speak from the heart, and practice whooping and praising descriptively—starting now!

“Kuczmarski wants you to discovery, appreciate, and expand the soul of your family. In an increasingly busy world, it can be difficult to maintain and nurture connections, but it is vital to keeping family as a source of refuge, growth, and strength. Breaking the family into three fundamental roles (functional, emotional and soulful) the author explores methods and meditations to understanding your family dynamics that incorporates rituals, memories, experience, stories, and people, including complimentary outsiders who bring special meaning to the structure. Somewhat a memoir of her own upbringing and experience, this warm and compassionate guide helps us to remain conscious about the family soul and celebrate its uniqueness.”

— The U.S. Review of Books

What people are saying

“The secret to making yourself happy is to make someone else happy. The author lays out a clear step-by-step path for bringing happiness home.”
--- Deepak Chopra, author of over sixty books on spirituality

“Family is the foundation of our lives. The values we learn from these early, intimate relationships guide our choices for many years. Dr. Kuczmarski understands the vital importance of family and offers valuable insights and tools to cultivate greater connection. Her expertise will help any family grow stronger and discover its soul.”
--- Dipak C. Jain, the INSEAD Chaired Professor of Marketing

“With insight and empathy, Dr. Susan Smith Kuczmarski charts new ground in helping families discover and nourish the ‘soul’ that makes them unique.”
--- Mary W. Quigley, mothering21.com and author, Going Back to Work: A Survival Guide for Comeback Moms

"This book will help American families—in all their beautiful and diverse forms—thrive and prosper in the ever-changing landscape of today. In embracing the uniqueness of modern families, Dr. Kuczmarski powerfully navigates the truths that define family life for us all: insecurity and confidence, doubt and courage, empathy and love."
--- Zach Wahls, Author, My Two Moms, and LGBTQ advocate

“In a time when much attention is being paid to families falling apart, the author focuses on how we can keep our families together. At the core is what she calls the “family soul”- a concept ephemeral to most of us, but Dr. Kuczmarski makes it real. This book provides a practical prescription and tools for restoring the soul in our ever-changing families.”
--- Michele Moeller Chandler, Ph.D., “Compose A Life” Professor, Williams College

“Books and sharing stories are at the very heart and soul of my family and my work. Thank you to Dr. Kuczmarski for writing a book that is a true roadmap for anyone seeking to nurture his or her own family's heart and soul.”
--- Robin Preiss Glasser, Illustrator of the Fancy Nancy book series

“Thank you Susan, for making the transformational value of pets part of the conversation. If family is ‘home’ then pets are at its heart; they alter its cadence, give freely, love unconditionally and devote themselves fully to the happiness and wholeness of their people. There is no doubt they contribute to the development, strength and resilience of the ‘family soul’.”
--- Paula Fasseas, Founder of PAWS Chicago (Pets Are Worth Saving)