Connection Rewards Life & Longevity
The lone wolf. Left the safety of the pack or been exiled. That's a scary thought, isn't it? All alone. In search of connections. It's an extreme nightmare. I'd much prefer to be surrounded by my family and friends. But in the end, they become stronger.
Thankfully, we are not feral. We've developed strong ties that'll last a lifetime. Although, it's not enough. There's no doubt you'll have a handful of best friends for life. People there for you week in, week out. But then there are those loose relationships and acquaintances. People that welcome you. That like you and will help you. These links will assist your life greatly.
That's why, just as the lone wolf seeks new connections, you'd be better off open to developing new contacts because one thing leads to another... a relationship, a friendship, a business opportunity... being able to connect will reward you.
In reality, we need people and they need us. Every aspect of our life is reliant on others cooperating together. It explains why we're socialites. Why we demand human contact. And why we form communities. Our natural draw to create and experience social stories with a theme gets us together... birthdays, religious celebrations, festivals, seminars... all provide opportunities to connect.
Today, there's another way we're connecting. Through the internet. Now, it's a great tool for making connections. However, while you can find similar people anywhere in the world and attract them, you cannot beat a flesh to flesh relationship developed in the physical world. It's because when you're with someone you're able to pick up all the signals - the verbal and nonverbal cues - we'd normally use to judge their character.
Be that as it may, I know it can feel easier behind a device. But there are a lot of unfriendly individuals protected by tech vomiting their thoughts in our direction. There are escalating pressures. We can end up feeling detached. And that's not a goods place to be because those that are isolated from people live shorter lives.
Longevity lies within active contact
Concerning this, studies from the University of Southern California, the International Longevity Center, to name a few have established that people experiencing new things with new friends live longer. They found increased health in those with diverse activities where they're able to meet more people.
On the b-side, in 1979, the Alameda County Study by Dr Lisa Berkman of the Harvard School of Health Sciences concluded people who lack social and community ties are almost three times more likely to die than those with extensive contacts. This was irrespective of money and class and health naughties like smoking, boozing, eating too much and lacking fitness. The lone wolf mentality is a death sentence.
Seemingly, when you build connections, not only will you live a longer healthier life, but these connections can take you where you want to be. They can provide help. Give you a leg up. Or introduce you to a dreamboat.
As a matter of fact, many of our needs run through social ties. United people with similar beliefs, achievements, values, and interests create a sense of safety and security and refuge for others with similar ideas and dreams. This culture becomes attractive to people alike. We feel the emotion flowing within the community. It encourages and fills us with gratitude, therefore, when times are hard we have a strength to fall back on. And they can make the good times roll. People supply an emotional treatment that can lift our spirits.
Given that connecting with people and meeting new people has so many life benefits, it makes sense to make it a life priority. So get out there and experience new activities with new people. There are so many areas to delve into and topics to talk about. Maybe something amazed you on Planet Earth II, or a performance on The Voice moved you, or an intriguing storyline keeps you thinking, or the seemingly endless scandals emerging, or food for thought. There's always something to talk about. And if the person likes you, they'll feel comfortable and natural around you. Then they will give you their attention and happily open up... Who knows where this will take you.