How Family Helps You Move Forward: The Power of Love, Belief, and Support

When life feels heavy and we’re stuck in one place, finding the strength to move forward can seem impossible.

But we don’t have to do it alone.

Sometimes the greatest support comes from the people who love us most. Learning how family helps you move forward can be the key that unlocks hope, courage, and new beginnings.

Michael J. Fox once said, “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.”

Family reminds us who we are when we forget — and lifts us when we’re too tired to stand on our own.

In this article, we’ll explore how the quiet strength of family can help you break free from stagnation and take that first step toward a better future.

5 Powerful Ways Family Helps You Move Forward

When you’re stuck, family can be the emotional anchor that holds you steady and gives you the strength to take that next step.

Here are five powerful ways they help us move forward when we need it most:

1. Encouragement

I think back on times when a family member gave me encouragement. Whether it was my mom, dad, sister, or wife, it didn’t matter. They gave me a simple push with phrases like, “You got this.” Or, “Try it and see if you like it.” Or, “This is your moment to shine.” Or, “Do what you love.” 

The power of those words, spoken at the most important moments of my life, was often the only reason I leaped beyond my own internal constraints and barriers.

Choice words at pivotal moments are how family helps you move forward. In many instances, it’s the secret sauce for breaking free.

2. Unconditional Love

During my teenage years. I was a hippie at heart and couldn’t have been further away from my parents’ generation. But what I saw and felt deeply was that my parents loved me.

They may not have understood or related to why I thought or believed a certain way — but they loved me regardless.

I recognized that very early. And now, many years later, it still warms my heart. I’ve worked to emulate that in my own family.

It’s not always easy, but when I remember the belief abyss between my parents and me, I realize, “I’ve got this.”

3. Belief In You

I think back to a time when I didn’t believe in myself — specifically with work. I was despondent, depressed, and didn’t think I could get out of the uninspiring situation I found myself in.

But my wife at the time and my family had a different belief in me. Thankfully, I took their belief in me and slowly incorporated it into my own. It changed my life.

It wasn’t the easiest task I’ve done, but little by little, step by step, I got there. And I never looked back.

I truly believe that I would not have started my own business without the seed of belief my family planted in me.

4.   Regain Confidence in Yourself

I remember as a teenager being involved in a play. My character was the first one on stage, alone — and the last one too. We had been practicing for weeks in preparation for the opening. I was terrified.

With just a few choice words, my family gave me the confidence that I could do it. Their belief in me transferred into belief in myself.

I firmly believe that without them, I would have frozen on stage with everyone watching. But I remembered what they told me:

I had practiced.

I knew my lines.

I could say them clearly and project my voice.

Hearing their confidence in my head while standing alone on that stage helped me kick off the play without a hitch.

5. Give Hope

Sometimes life can throw a wrench at you, and it can feel like it knocks all the hope right out of you.

I felt that way during my divorce — and at the same time, being long-distance from my daughter. 

It was devastating.

But my family was right there, reminding me that the situation — and my feelings — were only temporary. They told me that life would turn around. That nothing was permanent. That I just needed to take things day by day, step by step.

And they were right. Life did turn around after some time.

Hearing words of hope from my family helped stoke the fire of adjustment and gave me the strength to weather those long weeks and months.

The Power of Chosen Family

Not everyone has a strong bond with their biological family — and that’s okay.

Family can also be found in the people who show up, believe in us, and stand by our side when life gets hard.

Friends, mentors, neighbors, even caring coworkers — these are often the people who become our true support system. When you think about how family helps you move forward, sometimes it’s your chosen family doing the lifting.

Let me share one example.

In a secret company meeting at the turn of this century, I was introduced to a man who ultimately became my close friend and business partner. Trust, honesty, and respect are the core principles of our long-lasting friendship. Outside of my wife, there is no one I trust more. My life without his friendship is unimaginable.

Well, I can imagine it, but that life would not be as rich, as full of growth, or as interesting. We come from different places and have different beliefs, but that has been the fuel that has driven many deep conversations. Strange as it may sound, I have never had an argument with him. We talk as equals, and I always appreciate his thoughts and opinions. I’m a better person because of him.

If your family doesn’t look traditional, you’re not alone. What matters is surrounding yourself with people who care about your growth and well-being.

In the end, it’s not about who shares your last name.

It’s about who shows up when you need them most.

Let’s talk about how to let that help in.

How to Let Family Help You Move Forward

Sometimes the hardest part of moving forward is letting others in.

Whether it’s your biological family or the people you’ve chosen along the way, family can only support you if they know you need it — and if you’re open to receiving it.

Here are five ways to let that support in when you need it the most:

1. Be Willing to Ask

I believe most families truly want to help each other. Love and the desire to see each member thrive form the foundation of strong family bonds.

But if we don’t ask for help, our family may not even know it’s needed.

I used to struggle with asking. It felt like weakness — like admitting I wasn’t strong or capable enough. That internal judgment held me back, especially during high school when I went through a tough time. I kept it all in, and no one in my family truly understood what I needed until much later.

Take the small and usually simple step to ask. Whether it’s a big or small request, chances are your family will show up and stand beside you.

2. Practice Vulnerability

Our struggles become our family’s struggles — if we allow it.

Being vulnerable can feel uncomfortable. Embarrassment, shame, or fear of judgment can keep us silent. But I’ve found that a compassionate family doesn’t turn away from vulnerability. They lean in and learn more about you — and that understanding becomes a guide when you need their help the most.

3. Set Boundaries if Needed

Letting your family help doesn’t mean giving up control. You get to decide how much help you want and when you need it.

Drawing boundaries is not only appropriate — it’s essential for your emotional well-being.

Support should feel like a gift, not a burden.

4. Let Support Be Imperfect

Sometimes the help you get won’t be exactly what you hoped for. Maybe it’s less than you needed, or maybe it misses the mark.

But in most cases, I’ve found that even imperfect help comes from the heart.

Your family might not have experience with what you’re going through, but knowing they’re trying — that they’re there — has always given me a lift when I needed it most. That kind of backing is priceless.

5. Say Yes to Encouragement

At some of my lowest moments, I always had two people who believed in me: my mom and dad. Even when our beliefs didn’t always align, their faith in me never wavered.

That belief — quiet but consistent — helped me more than I ever expressed. I took their faith, put it in my mind, and used it when I needed it most. I’m eternally grateful to them for that.

When it comes down to it, the one word that best describes the power of family is presence. Whether it’s love, belief, or simple support, family helps us take steps we might never take on our own.

At Easy Steps, we believe that kind of step — no matter how small — can be life-changing. Or at the very least, it can get you moving again.

Michael J. Fox’s quote — “Family is not an important thing. It’s everything.” — is a powerful reminder of what family can mean. It took me years to fully realize that truth. My wife and her family, even through their own struggles, have shown me the quiet strength and resilience of what it means to truly be there for each other.

Who’s someone in your life who’s always been there?
A parent, grandparent, sibling — or maybe a lifelong friend?

Maybe it’s time to let them in — or simply thank them.
Or maybe you’re the one someone else sees as family.

A helping hand might already be in front of you.
Take that hand — and take the next step forward with someone who cares about your well-being.

Wherever you are right now, I hope you’ll remember this:
You don’t have to do it alone.
And sometimes, just being willing to lean on your people is the first easy step forward.

Additional Resources:

1. Keeping in Touch With Family Can Help Keep You Healthy
2. Building Strong Family Relationships