Let's Connect

"A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick". ~ Brene Brown 

By human nature we long for a sense of love and belonging.  We seek to be connected with others.  Connection sustains us and gives a strength.  There is an energy that exists between people when they feel valued, when they sense their presence matters and believe they make a difference in someone's life. Research tells us that people with strong social connections have less stress-related health problems, recover quicker from trauma and illness and have a lower risk of mental illness.  However, before we can connect with others, we must first connect with ourselves.  Seeking connection with others to validate ourselves simply does not work. It is a simple truth that we must first love and value ourselves .  It is in bringing our best selves to a relationship that valued connection is realized.    

Where do you find your connections?  We have opportunity to connect with others daily.  We are genetically connected to our family, we need to be intentional about growing those connections daily.  We often find connection with people who have similar hobbies and interests, with people in our workplace, and in our church family. True connection is found when people can give and receive without judgment. Who and what connects you?

"If only you could sense how important you re to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of.  there is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person" ~Fred Rogers

Having problems connecting?  Perhaps it is time to power down and unplug from our social media outlets and take a walk or sit down to coffee with someone and start "growing roots"  Who do you need to connect with today?