“It’s not about what you know, but who you know”, “two heads are better than one”, “strength in numbers” and any other phrase people use to talk about how “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” are all right in my book. I’m glad we finally have the research to prove it. It’s called social health. The better we are at getting along with others, the better off we are as individuals. You want to live longer; connect with more people.
Some of us don’t need any help at all. We love being around people. As long as the right people are around, anything we do is enjoyable. On the other hand, some people fear being in sociable settings. They only go out when they have to, and leave as soon as they can. Then there are some who love to go out, but need some healthier alternatives. Social health is important, but you don’t want to compromise the other four areas of health while at it. Here are some pointers on increasing your social health, without ruining other areas in your life:
Join an Organization
A great way to meet people is to join a group of like minded people. It’s easier to get along with people if they are similar to you. If you know you’re not great at meeting random people, find an organization of people with common goals and interest. If you can’t find a group dong what you like, start your own club. I promise there are enough people that like what you like, and with technology it’s easier than ever to meet people from all over.
Choose Wisely
Social connections can be great, but be aware of who you let in your life. Everyone you meet isn’t going to better your life. You may even need to evaluate your current relationships and let some of them go too.
Pride Kills
Some people live longer than others because they actually make use of their social networks . It’s one thing to have a social network in place, but you also have to be willing to turn to it for help. Many people don’t like asking for help because it makes them look weak… but all humans are weak and in need of help. If you don’t like showing people your weaknesses, then they’ll never be able to help you overcome them.
Think Health
When choosing the activities you participate in, make sure it’s healthy overall. If the social group you hang with is brining you down mentally, physically, spiritually, or hurting the environment; find another option. Maybe instead of changing the activity completely you just need to make some minor changes, like using protective gear or substituting out the unhealthy options.
Love Yourself
Stop worrying about how other people think of you and relax. We’re all different. Before you can start building your relationships with others; you have to work on yourself first. Sometimes I don’t like being around people, but then I realize it’s because I’m not happy, not because everyone around me sucks.
