*Mental Health: The Importance of Community
Our mental health significantly impacts our quality of life, so it is important that we do all we can to improve it. This may include things like eating healthy foods, exercising, and getting enough quality sleep each night.
But there is something else that greatly influences our mental health and that is a community and a sense of belonging. Human beings are wired for connection. When we feel connected to others, we feel loved and supported. Friends can often help alleviate the stress in our lives because our friends are there for us to lean on.
If you have been feeling alone and isolated, here are some ways you can find your own community and begin to connect with others:
Interests
What are your interests and hobbies? If you like reading, you may want to join a book club or if you have always wanted to learn to bake, join a baking class. You will find it easier to connect with others who enjoy doing the same things you do.
Volunteer
Being of service to others is highly rewarding, and volunteering is also a great way to connect with others who share similar values. What causes do you feel passionate about? What charities do you support? Check out their website or give them a call to see what volunteering opportunities they may have available.
Beliefs and Values
What are your beliefs and values? Connecting with something bigger than you is another helpful way to broaden your community. Joining a group or supporting a cause that is working towards goals/objectives that are meaningful to you. Humans are not meant to be alone. We need to socialize. If you have been feeling down, now’s the time to go out and make some new connections.
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