The Best Investment for Happiness and Health
Much money is spent on things we think are going to bring us happiness. From gym memberships to bigger houses, clothes, vacations, supplements, you name it. Most of us spend a lot of money on things we hope will add to the quality of our lives. One investment, though, seems to outperform all others. It's also basically free, and is guaranteed to not only add to our current happiness, but improve our health as well.
Friendship and social connection are more important to our health than we can really know. Friends reduce stress, help us find solutions, see problems differently, and make the things we do each day more enjoyable. Investing time and energy into relationships pays off over the course of our lives in ways we can barely count.
However, many of us are feeling more alienated from others than ever. These days, it's difficult for many of us to remain connected socially, and even more difficult to make new social connections.
Friendship and social connection are more important to our health than we can really know. Friends reduce stress, help us find solutions, see problems differently, and make the things we do each day more enjoyable. Investing time and energy into relationships pays off over the course of our lives in ways we can barely count.
However, many of us are feeling more alienated from others than ever. These days, it's difficult for many of us to remain connected socially, and even more difficult to make new social connections.
Having friends is an important part of self care. According to research done at Harvard Medical School, social connections improve our overall health and also seem to keep our brains sharper as we age. Positive relationships where we feel supported, respected, and appreciated improve our health, both physical and mental. They also improve our mood, our mindset, and our outlook for the future.
People who make a point to connect socially with others live longer lives and enjoy better health. In a recent article in the New York Times, called "How to Maintain Friendships," Anna Goldfarb wrote that the bonds of friendship are critical to maintaining physical and emotional health. She goes on to write that strong social ties boost the immune system, increase longevity, decrease the risk of contracting certain chronic illnesses and increase the ability to cope with chronic pain.
Most of us know that friendships improve our lives. The problem becomes, though, how do we make and keep them? It has become difficult these days, especially as we get older, to make and keep friends. We are more socially isolated than ever before, and social isolation is one of the most damaging stressors we can face.
What do we do? I am often being asked, "How do I make friends? How do I reconnect with old friends?" People are busy and distracted. It can be difficult to figure out how to break through all of the noise and connect. But it can be done.
The first step to renewing our social circle is to have a clear idea about what friendship should look like. Friendship should be positive. Friends are people who are consistent, offer support, and with whom we can laugh. They are also people with whom we can be vulnerable. The overall tone is one of positivity. Our friends lift us up, celebrate our successes, help us process our defeats, and help us laugh about life, ourselves, and everything else.
The second step is to examine why your social circle has been getting smaller. How have you been spending you time? Is it on things that are important to you? Try making a list of things you enjoy doing, both the big things and the small things. Keep the list where you can see it and add to it as more occurs to you. How much time do you spend doing these things? How can you add more of them to your life? What can you do less of to make more time for the things on your list?
Then, see how you can involve others in your activities. Are there groups of people already doing some of the things on your list? Can you join them? Can you invite someone to join you for a walk? To go to a movie? To try out a new restaurant? Join a knitting group? A bowling league?
Extend an invitation and keep an open mind. It can be hard to reach out with an invitation, but bear in mind that most of us like to be invited, and many of us are feeling disconnected. People like others who make them feel liked. People like others who make them feel heard and accepted. Bear that in mind as you reach out. Take a risk, stay positive, and focus on just having a good time and getting to know the other person. See what happens.
It's also important to nurture friendships with people who are already dear to us, but maybe we've become disconnected from them, or maybe we take them for granted. Who are the people in your life who have always been kind?
That might be a short list, but those that make the list are the ones to make time for, reach out to, and connect with. Nurturing our relationships is one of the biggest investments we can make for ourselves. It's an investment in long term health and happiness.
Did you know that hypnosis can help us improve our relationships? It can. By relieving symptoms of social anxiety and worry, hypnosis can help us reach out and connect with others more easily.
Hypnosis also can help us problem solve, view events or issues in a new way, and learn new ways to behave and interact with others.
Don't hesitate to contact me to find out more about how hypnosis can help you! I love to answer questions!
Then, see how you can involve others in your activities. Are there groups of people already doing some of the things on your list? Can you join them? Can you invite someone to join you for a walk? To go to a movie? To try out a new restaurant? Join a knitting group? A bowling league?
Extend an invitation and keep an open mind. It can be hard to reach out with an invitation, but bear in mind that most of us like to be invited, and many of us are feeling disconnected. People like others who make them feel liked. People like others who make them feel heard and accepted. Bear that in mind as you reach out. Take a risk, stay positive, and focus on just having a good time and getting to know the other person. See what happens.
It's also important to nurture friendships with people who are already dear to us, but maybe we've become disconnected from them, or maybe we take them for granted. Who are the people in your life who have always been kind?
That might be a short list, but those that make the list are the ones to make time for, reach out to, and connect with. Nurturing our relationships is one of the biggest investments we can make for ourselves. It's an investment in long term health and happiness.
Did you know that hypnosis can help us improve our relationships? It can. By relieving symptoms of social anxiety and worry, hypnosis can help us reach out and connect with others more easily.
Hypnosis also can help us problem solve, view events or issues in a new way, and learn new ways to behave and interact with others.
Don't hesitate to contact me to find out more about how hypnosis can help you! I love to answer questions!
