We enjoy the company of our friends and family (well, most of them anyway), but most of us probably aren’t aware of the impact they constantly have on our mental and emotional health. The connections we have with friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors helps us create a safety net of emotional support. Having a good support system makes us less likely to feel lonely or isolated, which in turn means we’re less likely to become depressed or suffer anxiety. We become more confident in the face of tough challenges. Those connections become a sort of emotional reserve to help us through life’s rough patches.
Do you have as many great connections as you’d like? Most of us don’t. The good news is that it’s not that hard to bring others into your support system – and it all starts with you:
- Remember that your self-worth is innate. What you’re worth as person comes from inside you, not through the opinions of those around you. Take pride in who you are.
- Get to know yourself. It’s a lot easier to understand others when you have a strong sense of who you are and what matters most to you.
- Practice self-compassion. Before you can become a good friend to others, make sure you become friends with yourself. Don’t punish yourself for being human.
- Start small. Don’t expect to establish a dozen close relationships by the weekend. Connections take time to grow, but they nearly always begin with those friendly, even awkward, conversations.
- Cultivate curiosity. Develop an interest in other people and what’s important to them. Not good at small talk? Ask questions. Most people are only too happy to talk about themselves.
- Be yourself. If you want people to connect with who you really are, that’s the person they need to get to know. Don’t act like someone you’re not because you think that will make people like you.
- Manage expectations. Even if you know hundreds of people, you’ll only develop deep relationships with a few of them – and that’s perfectly normal. Enjoy the rest for who they are.
Looking for advice on how you can develop those deeper connections with others? A great start is talking with a professional counselor who can help you better understand yourself and what motivates you. We have openings right now and would be happy to schedule a convenient time.