#58 How to create your family story – with Lidia Lae

Holding the Fort Abroad

Synopsis:

Create a strong family narrative that embraces diverse cultures and values to bridge any disconnect. In this episode, my guest Dr Lidia Lae explains how to develop a unique family culture that blends elements from different backgrounds, recognizing the best of both worlds. Lidia is a seasoned psychologist specialising in self-narratives. She shares her extensive research on how these stories shape our identities and influence our emotional well-being. She also provides practical tips and personal anecdotes on maintaining family unity, even when a parent is frequently away, using tools like family journal apps and focusing on gratitude. This episode reveals the power of self-narratives in reinforcing family bonds, fostering emotional closeness, and setting and achieving individual and family goals.

You will learn:

Developing a Family Culture

• Learn how to merge elements from different cultures into a cohesive family narrative that celebrates the best of both worlds.

Harnessing Self Narratives

• Discover the impact of self-narratives in reinforcing family bonds and maintaining emotional closeness, even when a parent is away.

Technology and Communication

• Find out how tools like family journal apps can aid in communication, fostering gratitude and making the absence of a parent less daunting for children.

Personal Stories

• Lidia shares her experience preparing her eight-month-old daughter for her absence, demonstrating the power of positive narratives and communication with children.

Emotional Support and Goal Setting

• Understand the importance of providing emotional support by framing absences as part of a bigger family story. We also discuss setting individual and family goals to build a strong family identity, offering a positive role model for children.

Cultural Comparisons

• Lidia presents her research comparing self-narratives of European Australians and Singaporean Chinese, shedding light on how cultural differences influence family dynamics and identity.

About Lidia:

Dr Lidia Lae is an East-Timorese Chinese Australian writer, psychologist, and speaker. With a PhD in social psychology, Lidia explores themes of culture, memory, meaning, purpose, self, and identity, unravelling the intricacies of the human condition with deep curiosity and empathy. Through her writing—including upcoming books and regular blog posts at www.lidialae.com—she aims to inspire, educate, and empower by making complex topics engaging and relatable. As the director of To Learn Consulting, Lidia offers psychological and consulting services, guiding individuals and organizations to embrace their unique stories for personal and collective growth. Beyond her professional endeavours, Lidia balances her roles as a therapist, mother, and world traveller, bringing a rich, multicultural perspective to her work.

Find out more about self-narratives and how to harness them for your family’s narrative