The Wellbeing 5
Jessica Speer
Author & Advocate for Kids & Families
The Relationship Wellbeing 5
5 Simple Questions to help with relationship wellbeing with answers from Experts, Thought Leaders, Campaigners & Advocates
Jessica Speer
Jessica is an author, speaker and advocate who focuses on helping kids and families thrive. She holds a Masters Degree in Social Sciences. Her writing helps kids and families navigate their social and emotional worlds with a higher level of awareness and skill. Her website (here) contains simple parenting techniques to help families connect and grow.
Jessica developed the Project Friendships program that helps kids to develop healthy friendship skills (click here for further information).
Her first book, BFF or NRF (Not Really Friends)? Girls Guide to Happy Friendships, will be released in 2021.
Find out more about Jessica here.
The Relationship Wellbeing 5 with Jessica Speer
1. What is your favourite quote, anecdote, proverb or experience that helps with relationship wellbeing?
Jessica: “Relationships are where life really happens. Through relationships, including our relationship with ourselves,…we connect, we mess up, we grow, and we learn to be our best.“
2. What is your top piece of advice for relationship wellbeing?
Jessica: How we communicate really matters. Blaming statements, defensiveness, and criticism fuel conflict. During disagreements, it’s easy to speak and act without intention. In these moments, we may say things or behave in ways that we later regret and damage our relationships.
When triggered, take time to ground yourself before you react. You may need to tell your loved one that you need a little time to calm down so you can respond with a clear head. This might mean going for a walk, taking some deep breaths, and other healthy ways to work through big emotions. Then, from a place of calm, address the issue. Words, body language, tone, and intention have the power to connect or divide.
When we practice healthy communications and respond from a place of calm, it has a powerful effect on our relationships.
3. What is the one change in the world that you would like to see? (in your area of wellbeing or in the world in general or both)
Jessica: I would love to see the world focus on our shared humanity instead of our differences. Underneath all of our differences, we all share a common need to feel love and acceptance
4. Which resources (books / websites / videos etc) for relationship wellbeing would you recommend?
Jessica:
Website:
For Couples: https://www.gottman.com/
Dr. John Gottman has revolutionized the study of marriage. For nearly four decades, he has conducted research and shared resources on relationships.
Books:
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, By Daniel Seigel
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids – How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting by Laura Markham
5. What’s the one thing that always makes you smile?
Jessica: When I see a child melting down or crying, and the child’s parent responds in a calm and loving way. I smile because instead of adding anger to the situation, this parent knows just what the child needs at that moment to calm down. By modeling patience, love, and presence, the parent is teaching the child about compassion too.
One Bonus Question. Is there anything else pertinent you would like to add to the conversation?
Jessica: Every single relationship in our life is an opportunity for growth. Sometimes we grow by staying in the relationship. Sometimes we grow by moving on. Regardless, there are important lessons to be learned that help us and others live our best lives.
Further Exploration - Jessica Speer
Website: Jessica Speer
Jessica's website that includes information about her, videos, books, a blog containing articles to help with kids and family wellbeing & further articles that she has written
Article: How To Talk To Kids Without Yelling & Why That’s Important
Jessica's Article on Live A Blissful Life discusses how to talk to kids without yelling, why we shouldn't yell and what you can do to foster positive behaviour instead
Article: 20+ Signs of Fake Friends: How to Spot and Deal With Them
Jessica's article on Upjourney looking at signs to spot fake friends & how to deal with them
Social Media - Connect with Jessica below
More Relationship Wellbeing 5 Interviews Below
More love & relationship Wellbeing 5 Interviews
With answers from experts, thought leaders, advocates and campaigners to help with love & relationship wellbeing