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At first, navigating my relationship with my mother-in-law felt like threading a delicate needle—. It took us many family meetings over the years and years (10 to be exact) to be in a good place, and I’m so so so proud of where we’ve come- because it was a journey.
But little did we know the principles of SAMP shared by my spiritual gurus—more on this below—have transformed our perspective and ultimately, our relationship.
SAMP is more than a set of principles; it’s the guide for our family life everyday moments and challenges. And it does take TWO!
Let’s start with the recipe, which makes sense if we’re thinking about the bigger picture of relationships:
Sahan karvu (the value of tolerance)
Anukul thavu (the value of being flexible)
Man gamthu mukhvu (the value of compromising/give up what one likes for the good of others)
Pote gasavu (the value of helping out)
It may not be easy to take initiative, but practicing these habits like showing gratitude and appreciation can be a good start. Both have to work at increasing: patience, understanding, and support for one another. This has helped shape a positive environment for our kiddos and family, and I know it can for you too!
So let’s explore some practical communication strategies to help navigate relationships.
Relationships can also come with unique challenges especially when it comes to communication with in laws. There can naturally be misunderstandings, disagreements and conflicts- and I know I’m not alone.
What I’ve found is that COMMUNICATION is a huge key of building and maintaining a healthy relationship with in laws.
We may all be living under 1 roof, but how often do we sit down and have conversations and get to know each other. I felt like many times that I wasn’t understand just because we didn’t really communicate with each other.
By working together to establish boundaries, plan some family time together, and share responsibilities, you can create a sense of teamwork and collaboration within your joint family. This can lead to a more positive and fulfilling living experience for everyone.
Using the ingredients of S A M P, we’ve transformed potential conflicts into deep connections. This approach has not only strengthened our bond but has become the cornerstone of our family’s happiness and cohesion.
The focus on values and positive relationships in the home has also served as an inspiration behind the Home Shanti Family Meeting Guide and the Indian Cultural Summer Kit (which by the way is available on our website and Amazon!).
For more on this topic, don’t miss our “Chai Chat Series” with mothers-in-law on the Home Shanti YouTube channel for more heartfelt discussions and tips.
I encourage you to have a “family meeting” with your MIL, read/summarize this blog post and talk about it. What did you like? What are things you can takeaway from the principles of SAMP?
I can’t wait to hear how about how your relationship will become even stronger <3
Wishing you peace and meaningful connections in your own home,
Home Shanti 🌸