The Glow Model: Strategies for Helping Families Heal

How do we start or continue to build healing strategies with our families during these difficult times? The GLOW model is one tool we use to generate these conversations. Go over it with your folks and use it as a springboard to build greater connection and community.

Giving: Whether it's through tangible presents or expressing gratitude, it's important to acknowledge those who respect our boundaries, honor our differences, or advocate for us when we're not around. Sometimes, we get so focused on what’s wrong that we miss appreciating the people who get it right. If you want to give gifts, consider choosing those that support others in their wellness journey—whether it's a gym membership, aroma therapy, herbal teas, or a massage—gifts that align with their interests and let them explore wellness on their own time, with their consent.

Learning Together: Invite loved ones into your healing practices. It could be a church service, healing circles, meditation classes, sound baths, mental health workshops, or yoga classes. They may not always accept immediately, but keep the door open for them to join when they’re ready. This shared experience creates a deeper bond and a mutual journey towards healing.

Offering a Different Approach: Sometimes we need to show people a different way of handling things. This could be modeling how to handle conflict with respect, how to honor others' boundaries, or simply how to communicate effectively. By embodying the behavior you want to see in your family or community, you can inspire a shift towards healthier interactions.

Wisdom Sharing: Share your experiences organically, with consent, and in a way that encourages openness not preaching. Whether it's through personal wellness interventions, sharing books, discussing cooking recipes, or even sending a reel, share what has worked for you in a way that invites curiosity and conversation without imposing it on others. Let your wisdom flow naturally.