We are in it together
Meaningful connections and their impact on our health
There is a clear link between the level of social connections in our lives and our health. It has been found that both receiving and giving social support make us more resilient and reduce our stress levels. In fact, stress researcher Elissa Epel has found that being socially connected is the number one stress reliever, while the feeling of loneliness is one of the factors that contribute to our stress, and therefore to our overall health greatly. People who are part of a united community are more resilient to stress.
Social isolation harms both our mental and physical health. The lack of social connections affects our longevity even more than obesity. Especially interesting in these difficult times: social interaction improves our immune functioning by making us more resilient. A well-functioning immune system is something we all dearly need right now.
We are all apart from each other at the moment
Most countries have taken restrictive measures of social distancing. It sounds like a paradox: at this moment we desperately need social interaction to build our resilience, while weaned to keep more and more distance from each other. Historically, humankind experienced collective breakthroughs through collective hardships. In difficult times there lies opportunity.
We face similar challenges - we cultivate collective resilience
It feels almost as if these times are a call for building collective stress resilience. We share similar challenges at the moment, we feel like we are “in the same boat”. Beautifully, this feeling strengthens a sense of shared identity and empathy towards the most vulnerable people. There is the possibility that this stronger sense of collective identity will help face global challenges, also after this crisis has passed.
How we adapted our social behavior to this crisis has been exceptional. We are cultivating collective resilience, building shared solidarity, and possibly people start to identify more with humanity. What if we were able to build meaningful connections to others in these difficult times by both giving and receiving social support?
Building meaningful connections in a world of social isolation
We at the Inner Work-Out are here and you are welcome to reach out, have a chat or take part in active community building in one of our Inner Work-Outs. The Inner Work-Outs sessions are there to help you build meaningful connections with others, support them in their current challenges, and receive support in your own challenge in a safe and guided environment. A community that provides genuine help and holds deep conversations about the things that matter.
Join us for building a collective resilience - from the inside out.