Social relationships are a big part of our lives and play a crucial role in our psychological well-being.
That means, unless you live on your own in a deserted island, like poor old Tom Hanks, you are surrounded by all kinds of people, almost all the time.
Social relationships can determine the quality of our lives.
Mine? Yes, yours too.
Relationships are so important that they can give us or take from us, depending on how good or bad they are. Our friend Nipsey has a great quote for this, although a tad scary:
If you look at the people in your circle and you don’t get inspired, then you don’t have a circle.
You have a cage.
– Nipsey Hustle.
But, why are relationships so important? What do they do for us?
Let’s see the key aspects:
- Social Support
Having a network of friends, family, and acquaintances provides emotional support during challenging times (remember the Covid party that we had a few years back?). Knowing that there are people who care about us can reduce stress and help our mental resilience (aka ability to cope on).
- Open Opportunity Portal
I love the term ‘portal’, I’m sure you’ve heard it too around coachy/manifestation instagram profiles. But, let’s focus! Actually having aligned connections between like-minded people can create opportunities for any area of life. Do you remember that job that you got through the cousin of your boyfriend’s friend? Or the double date that you attended to in order to give your friend a favour that turned out to be when you met the love of your life?
- Sense of Belonging:
They give us a sense of belonging and identity. Feeling connected to a group or community satisfies our fundamental human need for affiliation and a sense of purpose. (although… a lot of problems arise from being part of a group and losing your sense of individuality, but that’s a debate for another day!)
- Emotional Regulation:
Interacting with others allows us to share and process emotions, aka venting. It gives us a space in which to express feelings, receive empathy, and gain perspective on our experiences. This is emotional regulation, as well. Sometimes, you don’t need 127 techniques to regulate your nervous system, but a heart to heart conversation in a safe space with a friend (or therapist, hi there!).
- Reduced Loneliness:
Loneliness can have detrimental effects on mental health. A sense of connection reduces the risk of depression and anxiety. Sometimes we have to make an effort to stay connected (because, life!), but trust me, it is worth it. Call that friend!
- Social Validation:
Positive interactions with others contribute to our sense of self-worth and validation. Social feedback (constructive please!) reinforces our identity, helping us develop a positive self-concept. We are because an Other sees us and recognises us (more on that in the following episodes!)
- Stress Reduction:
Engaging in social activities or having supportive relationships can buffer the impact of stress. Socialising promotes the release of oxytocin, a hormone associated with bonding and stress reduction (don’t we all like a bit of science sometimes?).
- Cognitive Stimulation:
Interacting with diverse individuals exposes us to different perspectives, ideas, and challenges. Not divergent, diverse individuals. Different. Not you or your bestie, different people from different ages/culture/professions, etc. This stimulates our brains, and helps with processes like learning, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Get out of your comfort zone!
- Health Benefits:
Strong social ties have been linked to better physical health. Mens sana in corpore sano. People with robust social connections tend to have lower rates of chronic diseases and recover faster from illnesses.
These are the key positive outcomes of having good quality relationships. But, if they are poor or not with the right people by our sides, read this list again but in reverse.
Wow! Right? Imagine the consequences on your overall life.
Relationships are key. This doesn’t mean that you have to abandon the people in your life that are not “aligned” with you, unless they are (really) negative. It is more adaptive to filter and choose with whom to do what.
Sometimes you will be able to express your feelings better with a neighbour than with your sibling. And that is okay too.
If social relationships are a part of your life that gives you a constant headache, don’t just undervalue its importance. Try to make it better, step by step.
Love,
Noemi
