Connections

Intimacy: Is it real?

Why do we need connections? For starters, we are human beings, and as such, we are social animals. Would you like to know what would happen when we don’t socialize and build connections? All you have to do is read the latest news about addiction or violence and the effects these have on society. The majority who are involved are suffering from some form of mental health issue as a result of a lack of connection and of isolation.

Now let’s go deep and talk about ourselves. Why do we need to build connections? From a young age, I was taught by a wise man. He said, ” in life, you have friends for a reason, friends for a season, and friends for life.”

Friends for a reason

It is not who you know in life, but who knows you! Every time you engage with someone, you are creating an opportunity. It is vital because you never know when it will come in handy. Whatever path you choose in your life, connections are essential to advance your personal life and your career. When someone gives you a push and recommends you for a specific position, it’s not because you have the skills. You have the experience and displayed trust. Now it’s not just the career factor to seek connections. It can also be your hobby. Would you connect more with someone who has the same interest as you? This way, you can share knowledge and help each other grow as a person.

Friends for a season?

Now people come and go, and that’s the reality of life. Unfortunately, nothing last forever because, just like seasons, people change also. It can be a life-changing event that makes someone disappear. I was friends with this one individual for five years. All it took was the death of his parents, and this person vanished. However, in those five years, I experienced a lot of growth and learned a lot from him. He was a few years older than I and gave me good, solid advice. I will always be grateful for some of the deep conversations we had about the challenges of being a man and what we can do to be better.

FFL (#Friends4Life)

Now I am sure we all want to have friends from the age of five until forever 🙂  Who doesn’t like to receive a weekly phone call from someone who wants to check in with you? We are talking about individuals who genuinely care about your welfare. This category of connections increases your sense of belonging and purpose.  Having this type of friendship also boosts your happiness, reduces your stress, and improves your self-confidence and self-worth. A spin-off is that these friendships help you cope with drama, traumas, and everyday struggles in the modern world. It’s so enjoyable when your long-time friend calls and asks how you have been and both of you share an inside joke/moment/story.  You laugh and reminisce and find time for each other.  It’s through this connection and through laughter that we reduce stress. Laughter is the best medicine, they say.

Building connections go beyond building friendships. New connections will introduce you to new ideas and business alliances regardless of your industry. A reason, a season, and lifetime connections are so valuable to our well-being and our progress.  And in those connections, sharing who you are through stories, through being vulnerable, through being real and open and authentic are where the magic happens.  This sharing can happen between friends, between colleagues, between you and an audience, and between you and a lover.  We all want better connections, and better relationships and we know that the connections lead to better health and wellness. Make living in connectedness your mantra.