Explore the importance of community for mental health and the benefits of belonging. Learn how to find and foster meaningful connections.
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Quick takeaways
Being part of a community provides mental and physical health benefits, stimulates creativity, and gives our lives meaning and purpose.
Loneliness can lead to increased risks of dementia, strokes, depression, anxiety, and premature death, emphasizing the importance of belonging to a community.
Deep dives
Benefits of Community and the Downfalls of Group Behavior
Being part of a community has various mental and physical health benefits. Group behavior can have downfalls such as ignoring potential dangers or surrendering critical thinking. But when we recognize these downsides, we can create enjoyable and creative group experiences. Loneliness, on the other hand, can lead to increased risks of dementia, strokes, depression, anxiety, and premature death. Belonging to a community stimulates creativity, makes us feel safer and more secure, and gives our lives meaning and purpose.
Finding Community: Online and Offline Opportunities
Communities have a significant impact on longevity, as seen in places like Okinawa with strong social ties. To find community, one can start by joining online groups on platforms like meetup.org. Other options include joining recreational sports teams, volunteer groups, meditation groups, or taking classes at local community colleges. It is also possible to create your own group by proposing activities to someone you know. The desire for community is inherent in human nature, and forging connections is possible through various opportunities.
1.
The Benefits of Community and Finding Ways to Belong
Today is part 1 of Sam's deep dive into community and all the benefits that come with it. In this episode, she shares why community is so important, plus some tips to meet new people.
To start building your own community, here is the link to Meet Up that Sam mentioned in the episode.
Sam has taught mindfulness and social emotional learning to teens, families and adults all over the world for more than 12 years. She obtained her master’s degrees in clinical and educational psychology from Columbia University, and an M.S. in emotion science from Mid-Sweden University. You can reach out to Sam on Instagram here!