Family Blog

When Opposites Attract

We’ve all heard how romantic it can be when opposites attract.

But one of the hardest parts of marriage is dealing with your spouse’s differences…

• Maybe you’re an extrovert and your spouse is an introvert.
• Maybe you communicate best with your actions and your spouse communicates best with their words.
• Maybe you love sports and your spouse loves books.

The list goes on and on. But today, let’s talk through how differences in marriage can be a blessing in disguise…

Differences Lead to Acceptance: Once we recognize how we’re different, we can come to better accept our spouse for who they are. We can learn to love their boldness in spite of our timidness. We can learn to love their strength when we are weak. And we can learn to love their patience when we are angry.

Differences Lead to Fun: Differences in marriage also mean FUN! It means having the opportunity to try things you never thought you would…things like traveling, skydiving, or tasting foreign food. Be sure to explore your spouse’s differences and make the most of them.

Differences Lead to a Balance: Finally, differences lead to a healthy balance in marriage. When you struggle with negativity, your spouse’s optimism will come in handy. And when your spouse struggles with daily stresses, your big picture mindset will bring peace.

 

How are you and your spouse different from one another? We’d love to hear your answer in a comment below.

How to Recognize Your Strengths and Weaknesses

It isn’t easy to recognize our strengths and our weaknesses. Why? Because it requires some serious self-examination.

We all want to believe we’re patient, social, and a strong leader. But that’s often not the case. And the sooner we identify our strengths and weaknesses, the sooner we can utilize them to our advantage!

That’s why my challenge for you is this: to answer the following questions as honestly and objectively as you can.

Your Strengths:

1. In what areas of your life do you often find success?

2. If your friends had to pick you to be in charge of something, what would they put you in charge of?

3. Over time, what have you noticed to be your natural abilities?

Your Weaknesses:

1. If we asked your spouse, what would they say are your biggest struggles?

2. In what areas of your life do you often seek help?

3. What aspects of your career do you find most challenging?

 

What are your strengths and weaknesses? Feel free to leave your answers in a comment below.

How to Achieve Greatness at Work

Self-analysis is no simple task. Yet it’s crucial to working well with others and achieving great things. Why? Because the more we know about our strengths and weaknesses, the more we’ll be able to seek out others who can complement us.

So answer the 10 questions below to better understand where you thrive and where you struggle. Then, use your new knowledge to create a recipe for success with your coworkers!

1. Leadership: Do you enjoy taking charge or following pre-determined plans?
2. Confidence: Do you speak your mind or hope for things to work themselves out?
3. Compassion: Are you easily able to see your coworkers as people with personal lives and families?
4. Ambition: Are you constantly looking for ways to grow or are you content where you are?
5. Detail-Oriented: Are you able to keep all the puzzle pieces in order or do you prefer the big picture?
6. Logical: Are you driven by logic or emotions?
7. Team Player: Do you thrive in a group or do you prefer independence?
8. Criticism: Do you take constructive criticism well or does your sensitivity prevent you from growing?
9. Experience: Are you a well-seasoned pro or do you need more guidance?
10. Perfection: Do you get frustrated with imperfection or are you able to demonstrate flexibility?

What are some other common strengths and weaknesses you see in yourself? Comment below with your thoughts!

Integrity: The Foundation of Trustworthiness

We all believe in integrity. But how many of us actually pursue integrity in our daily lives?

Being a man of integrity means being trusted by yourself, your peers, and your God. So let’s break each of these down and talk about what that looks like day to day.

Trusting Yourself: 

Every moment is an opportunity to make the right choice or the wrong choice–with your spouse, with your kids, and even with your work. But trusting yourself begins with recognizing this battle, and fighting for integrity.

Being Trusted By Others: 

Gaining trust from your peers requires consistency over time; it’s not something that simply happens overnight! So let your words and actions–however big or small–convey integrity.

Being Trusted By God: 

Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Acting with integrity can be difficult. But when we begin to be trustworthy with the small things, we will grow in our ability to be trustworthy with the big things.

When is the last time you pursued a life of integrity? We’d love to hear your story in a comment below.

How to Build Up Your Son’s Confidence

Your son needs a hero.

He needs someone who will cheer him on, someone who will love him well, and someone who will build him up. Someone like you…his father. So here are 3 things to share with your son that will build his confidence.

1. Tell Him He’s Capable of Anything: Teach your son that determination and dedication are the tools to success. Once he understands this, be a source of encouragement as he pursues his passions in life.
2. Tell Him He Makes You Proud: Affirm your son’s character by sharing that you’re proud of him simply for who he is…not for anything he has accomplished.
3. Tell Him He Can Always Count on You: And finally, be sure to share with your son that you will always be there for him. No matter what highs or lows life throws his way, remind him that you will never leave his side.

How else can you build up your son’s confidence? Simply leave your suggestions in a comment below.

 

10 Ways to Make Memories with Your Kids

Once your kids are grown and gone, what they’ll remember most is the times you spent together. So get started making memories today with our list of 10 Things to Do with Your Kids:

1. Go fishing together
2. See a movie together (and don’t forget the popcorn!)
3. Spend the afternoon together at the park
4. Take a bike ride around the block together
5. Read a book together at night
6. Cook dinner together (but make sure YOU have the final say on the ingredients!)
7. Swim in the pool together
8. Toss the football together in the backyard
9. Color together (and let her think her picture looks much better!)
10. Go out for ice cream together

 

What are some other ideas to make memories with your kids? Feel free to comment with your ideas.

Spread the Love!

Tony and Lauren Dungy want to help you and your spouse develop an Uncommon Marriage!

So be one of the first 20 to sign up for the Daily Huddle Email and you’ll be entered to win an Uncommon Marriage Book Bundle!

Our Daily Huddle Email includes small bits of wisdom from Coach Dungy’s books to help get your day started off on the right foot. And by signing up for our email, you’ll also have a chance to win this awesome Book Bundle featuring different versions of Tony and Lauren’s Uncommon Marriage!

Coach Dungy and his wife wrote this delightful, eye-opening book to share what it takes to build a marriage that will last…especially in our day and age. Uncommon Marriage has something in it for everyone–even singles looking to get married!

From Uncommon Marriage and the Uncommon Marriage Adventure Pack, to the Uncommon Marriage audiobook and Uncommon Marriage Bible Study, the different book bundles are sure to strengthen your marriage!

So sign up for the Daily Huddle Email and start your journey to a rich and satisfying Christ-centered marriage today!

 

Tony Dungy Elected into NFL Hall of Fame!

Congratulations Coach Dungy! We are so incredibly proud of you for being elected into the NFL Hall of Fame!

You have certainly earned this honor thanks to your dedication and your dignity, your passion and your patience, your care and your commitment. You truly are an incredible athlete and coach!

But most of all, we’re so thankful to see a man of faith be given such prestigious recognition. Your consistent walk with Christ has been reflected in your continued integrity throughout your career.

“Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3

Enjoying the Journey of Life

It’s all too easy to miss the special moments in life. Why? Because we busy ourselves with worries over the future. We’re so caught up in controlling and planning the future, that we miss out on the moments that are right in front of us.

So today, let’s discuss 3 ways to enjoy the journey of life:

1. Remember to Laugh. An easy way to enjoy life is to laugh loudly and laugh often. This gives us a chance to appreciate the joy of living a full life.
2. Remember to Be Thankful. One of the most important parts of enjoying life is being thankful. Maybe this means listing out what you’re grateful for or maybe this means saying a prayer of thanks. However you choose to do it, find a way to be thankful every day.
3. Remember to Enjoy Your Family. And finally, enjoying life means enjoying life’s most precious gift: your family. So stop rushing through your days and take time to love your kids well before they grow up.

What’s holding you back from enjoying the journey of life? Comment below with your thoughts.

 

3 Reasons to Go to Church with Your Spouse

Here at the Dungy Family Foundation, we believe church has the power to encourage, engage, and strengthen your marriage. How? Check out the 3 ways attending church together can empower your relationship with your spouse:

1. Church sets God at the center of your marriage. First and foremost, the best part of attending church with your spouse is how God becomes the foundation of your relationship. With weekly encouragement to continually pursue Christ, you and your spouse are better equipped to lean on the Lord no matter how difficult life becomes.
2. Church ensures you and your spouse are on the same page. Next, church is a great way to align your priorities, decisions, and convictions with your spouse. By establishing similar mindsets, arguments and uncertainties will be more easily navigated.
3. Church creates community for your family. And finally, church is an incredible source of community. Not only will small groups provide accountability and guidance for your marriage, but it will also give your kids the opportunity to grow in their faith. Then together, you and your spouse can better train up your children with strong morals and a love of the Lord.

What are some of the other benefits of church? Comment below with your thoughts!