How many times have you felt uninspired, lack luster, just waiting for the day to be over and to finally do what you want? In this post I talk about how to get back to being inspired and ready to tackle the day. Not every day… What am I perfect haha.. I’d settle for most days wouldn’t you?
Table of Contents
Value Of Connection
Why is connection all that valuable anyways? I think we all have asked this question, me especially. Sometimes we just want to be alone, we want all the pressure to cease and everything to just calm down. People are the ones causing all our problems anyways. Right?! Well I hate to be the barer of bad news… If you have problems wherever you go its actually probably more to do with you attitude then theirs.. Hey! I get it people are well.. stupid to put it nice (I’m in a nice mood lol). Even with the bad drivers (Hello Washington) or Incompetent co-workers, even disobedient children. The one thing that crosses over is you but this isn’t an attitude post (The Spark Within) so I won’t go there lol. Despite all we have to deal with on a daily basis wouldn’t we just be better or happier without people? Wrong (unfortunately says all the introverts in the room!)
Here are the effects connection actually has on your brain. If your not in a reading mood here is the short and simple.
In short, connection isn’t just emotionally fulfilling—it’s biologically essential for a healthy, happy brain. Building and maintaining strong connections can profoundly enhance mental and physical well-being.
#1 Releases Feel Good Hormones
- Oxytocin: Often called the “bonding hormone,” oxytocin is released during meaningful social interactions, such as hugging, helping others, or even deep conversations. It reduces stress and increases feelings of trust and attachment.
- Dopamine: Positive social connections stimulate the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine, which creates a sense of pleasure and motivation.
#2 Reduces Stress and Anxiety
- Social connections lower cortisol (the stress hormone). This is why spending time with loved ones or talking to someone you trust can make you feel calmer.
- A strong support system helps buffer the brain’s response to stress, making challenges feel less overwhelming.
#3 Improves Cognitive Function
- Interaction with others keeps the brain engaged, which can improve memory, focus, and problem-solving skills.
- Loneliness, on the other hand, has been linked to cognitive decline, as the lack of stimulation and connection can harm brain health over time.
#4 Strengthens Emotional regulation
- When you connect with others, your brain learns to better manage emotions.
- Positive interactions activate the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and controlling impulses, helping you stay calm and balanced.
#5 Encourages Neural Growth
- Deep relationships stimulate neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. This allows you to adapt, grow, and recover from emotional or mental challenges more easily.
#6 Creates a Sense of Belonging
- Feeling connected activates the brain’s default mode network, which fosters self-awareness and a sense of purpose.
- Humans are wired for connection, and this sense of belonging is crucial for mental well-being.
#7 Reduces Pain
- Studies show that emotional connection can reduce physical pain. For example, holding someone’s hand during a stressful or painful experience can lower activity in the brain’s pain centers. See study Here
Who Do You Want To Be?
I’m not talking the typical “I want to be a firefighter when I grow up” but, rather. What type of person do you want to be? What type of character do you want to have? Do you really want to be the anti-social type, or the one who always says yes because your scared to say no, or maybe even the one with he wall up not allowing any personal connection for fear of being hurt. Do you want to be the person that people are excited to see because your impact on them and their life has ultimately changed them for the better? Remember we get to be whoever we want to be in this would. The cliche we only live once isn’t designed to allow us to do whatever we want without thinking of others with no consequence to who we hurt. It’s to teach us to push pasts the fear that are holding us back. Not to seek out pleasure and fun in this world, although that will be there but to reach and fulfill our purpose. If we chase pleasure we loose peace, joy, and fulfillment. Our lives become empty shells of numbing and moving to the next hit of pleasure. In contrast when we chase hard, when we push past our fears and challenge ourselves to impact lives, to change and grow for the better. We are able to grasp significance. That is the true kind of life, the true acts that live on past our life. It’s your choice. You decide who you want to be. It may and in many cases will be different from others and that doesn’t make it bad. In some cases that shows the true meaning of your life to go against the grain.
What To Strive For?
Now that you have taken some time to think about “who you want to be” your identity, now you need to impart actionable steps to make it happen. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much. The greatest diminisher of progress is being overwhelmed with growth, wishing and hoping, even looking down on yourself for not being better or getting to who you want to be faster. I recommend picking 2 things you want to change and put in actionable steps on a daily or weekly consistent basis, depending on what it is. Consistency is key here. As you start to integrate new habits into your life you need to see the small wins. Every day you get a little better celebrate. Every time you fall back into old ways recognize you are human, don’t get down on yourself just make the decision to try again. What you are wanting her is the compounding effects that this will have in a year five, ten years and even your lifetime. The choices you make now impact your children. What will you strive for? What are your goals? Write them down, this is important. Your important. Write it down.
Help me now!
Glad you asked. I have several different resources for you to go to that will help you on your journey. Let’s be life long learners together! Not just life long learners but life long Originators. Be a person of action an Initiator. Someone who starts things, takes the lead. and brings new ideas or actions into motion. Don’t just start something new but stick with it.