Dimensions of Health Series: Intro to Social Wellness: Essay 6 of 7

Social wellness is typically described as our ability to form and maintain any relationship outside of ourselves. This includes family, friends, romantic partners, and professional and community connections. It has been noted that individuals who succeed at maintaining successful relationships live longer and happier lives. 

It is my belief that the importance of social wellness lies in the human condition and its need for connection, feeling connected to ourselves, and our world is a very innate calling that appears within each of us, but the appearance of connection differs for each of us. 

Social wellness is going to look very different to everyone. Some people thrive in large families and social circles, some thrive with just a few close relationships, and some people just feel better alone. These are things that can differ at different stages in our life and change in transition. None of these are wrong, or unhealthy as long as it is an authentic feeling. For these variations it is important to look at and honor our personal preferences, values, morals, and ethics and ask ourselves are the people and environments I am a part of aligned with my authentic self, or am I keeping these relationships out of fear, insecurity and a sense of belonging? 

Wisdom: “We nurture our sense of connection with the larger whole, noticing that the whole is only as healthy as the smallest part” Sharon Salzberg

Play with these tools: 

• Start thinking about how you FEEL after engaging with individuals and groups 
• Ask yourself if the groups you are involved with are helping you feel good and meet your goals
• Start saying NO to anything that doesn’t make you feel good

We are all connected ~Kristen