Healing Connections

healing connections insta 1 People know they must eat well, get adequate movement, refrain from smoking, and limit alcohol if they want to be healthy. Research is now showing that we can now add “connections” to our list of healthy habits! Connecting with others, connecting with yourself, and connecting with nature are commonly thought to impact your mental health, but you may be surprised to learn that they impact your physical health as well.

Consistency is the key to benefiting from these connections. Investing in these connections doesn’t have to take a lot of time or cost a lot of money. Little things add up over time. Start with what sounds easiest to you and build these practices from there. Once you see how they make you feel, you may embrace them more and more. And maybe those around you will come to pursue these things too.

Let's explore what these connections could look like in your life.

Connecting with Others

Author and researcher Brene Brown defines connection “as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

The American Association for the Advancement of Science published a study that found “a lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure.” It is linked to obesity levels, inflammation, and hypertension. But positive connections improve your immune system and lead to a 50% increased chance of longevity.

Ways to increase your chance for good connections...

Make time for important people in your life.
Invite friends to hang out with you on your patio.
Go for a walk with a loved one.
Show your affection through physical touch.
Make room for laughter.
Call a family member.
Text an old friend.
Go for a walk with someone fun.
Do a favorite activity together (bowling, shopping, golfing, an escape room, etc.)
Join a book club or sports team (pickleball, softball, volleyball, etc.)
Be intentional about connecting around the dinner table a few times a week.
Hang out in the evening with those you live with.
Put your cell phone away when you are connecting with others in person. (Research has found that the presence of a cell phone interferes with connection.)

Connecting with Yourself

It is extremely powerful to connect with yourself. Part of this is slowing down enough to notice what is going on internally. You may feel happiness, peace, excitement, or other more difficult emotions. It is important to accept these emotions without judgment or an attempt to change them. Emma Seppala, Ph.D., explains that “adults, in an attempt to bury and control their emotions often carry them with them for years. Allowing the emotion to arise and giving it our full attention may be a key to letting it go.”

Everyone will connect with themselves in their own way, but the following are some ideas to try…

Go for a relaxing walk.
Try meditation.
Read a book and contemplate your reaction.
Take some time to journal.
Do a guided self-compassion meditation (with Kristen Neff).
Practice box breathing (also known as Four Square breathing).
Use art as a tool for self-connection. (You don’t have to be an artist, even an adult coloring book can help with reflection.)
Experiment with the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.
Work with a therapist to get in touch with your internal world.

Connecting with Nature

According to Seppala, a recent study shows that “taking walks in nature can increase our well-being even in the case of depression, and another study showed that exposure to nature increases our value of connectedness and closeness.” Don’t skip this because you feel that you don’t have room in your schedule or hate the cold; even a short time in nature will be beneficial.

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