Maybe you’ve been distracted by the run-up to Christmas - frantically buying last-minute gifts, worrying about the budget that was stretched too far or dealing with tough family dynamics. To quote the well-known cliché, we can end up forgetting the real reason for the season - God made man - and that all these things we do, are a means not an end.

Recently I asked my youngest daughter if she was excited about starting back to school. Like most little children, she lives completely in the present and it took her a moment or two to even consider what it might be like following the routine of a school day again. Eventually she said “it’ll be nice to see my friends again.”

Looking back on it now, I don't think I really knew what to expect when I got married. The man I had chosen to spend the rest of my life with was my best friend, and a part of me believed that once we were married, life would be perfect.

But when I talk about culture here, I’m referring to the beliefs and attitudes that permeate our homes - our own unique family culture that sets us apart and binds our family together. Here are 3 ways to begin building the culture in your family.

Whether we realise it or not, the various parts of our lives can either be helped or hindered by the thoughts we allow ourselves to have. Take a moment just to ‘think’ of all the thoughts you might have in a day and then ask yourself…are they always helpful or do they sometimes hold me back?

How many times do we tell ourselves stories that actually hold us back from achieving the things we want in a day? I’m not talking about huge tasks. Very often, these are simple, normal, everyday things. Perhaps wanting to read more, or wanting to exercise more.