It’s the end of a different, and interesting, and in some cases challenging year.
We have experienced a year of both increased family and social connections for some and decreased opportunity for connection with others.
One thing is certain “people crave comfort, people crave connection and people crave community”. No year has this been more apparent than 2020.
For me as a Chiropractor, serving others and making meaningful connections with someone is the most powerful thing I can do. Not only does it allow me to see the true unique beauty of an individual and work out the best approach to help that person, but it allows us both to make a new connection and strengthens our sense of belonging and our service to community.
As human beings, the need for connection and community is an essential component of our health, improving not only our mental & emotional wellbeing but our over all physical health.
Research from Stanford Medicine – The Centre for Compassionate Altruism Research and Education (May 8, 2014) showed that:
“People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others and are more trusting and co-operative”.
There was even more research to suggest that connection could strengthen your immune system, help speed up recovery time from diseases and may be even lengthen life.
On the other hand, people low in social connection suffering from loneliness are more vulnerable to anxiety, depression, anti-social behaviours and even suicidal behaviours which tend to increase their isolation.
Everyone is different and that is OKAY !!
Not everyone has the opportunity or the desire to have a job like ours where we are surrounded by opportunities everyday to make connections. You may even feel like your life is low in social connections.
FEAR NOT !!! The good news is that social connection has a lot less to do with the number of friends you have and more to do with your internal feelings of connection (ie) You could have 1000 friends and yet feel lonely but could also have no close friends or relatives and still feel very connected from within.
Ways to increase your connection with yourself and your community:
- Focus on the positives = continue to cultivate the relationships and activities you enjoy.
- Keep your social network close = maintain a group of friends, family members and/or neighbours who you can talk to.
- Have a special someone = a trusted friend, spouse or family member you can communicate with routinely.
- Try meeting new people = e.g. many friendships have been forged within the walls of CCK by people who chose to put their phones down and engage with a conversation, a smile or joke, a compliment or random act of kindness – go out in the world and give it a go!
- Get active and social at the same time = e.g. join a new club, course or interest group or find a walking / workout partner and hold each other accountable. Watch the connection grow.
- Ignite an internal feeling of connection by expressing gratitude = acknowledge and be grateful for the connections you already have. Eg the great connection you have with your chiro, your dog, your garden. Remember life is much fuller and less lonely when we are thankful for the connections we have rather than those that are missing.
- Give back kindness = e.g. help someone, volunteer, donate your time, your knowledge, yours $$.
Remember “giving connects two people – the giver and the receiver and that connection gives birth to a new sense of belonging” Deepak Chopra
-Sally
