The Power of Connection

“Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres.” My parents repeated these words in my household throughout my childhood and adolescence. It was advice as much as it was a warning - “tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” It was their way of reminding my siblings and me that who we chose as our friends said something about the kind of people we were too. But, it also let us know that our relationships have a significant impact on the life we lead.

As a counselor supporting those managing mental health and addictions, I have seen the impact that connection or lack of connection can have on someone’s well-being. In many sober communities, individuals are encouraged to change the people, places, and things to remain sober. In other words, maintaining connections to these would keep addiction active, while changing them would hopefully move someone towards sobriety.

One of the greatest struggles of depression is the self-isolation many people inflict upon themselves due to the heaviness they feel. And yet, being with others counteracts this and helps people through a depressive episode. Those of us sitting beside someone with depression know the challenge of trying to connect with them when they feel so far away.

May is mental health awareness month. Recent statistics indicate that 1 in 5 US adults experience mental illness. During this month, the hope is to increase awareness and decrease stigma around mental health challenges. One of the ways that mental health issues are addressed is ensuring that people are connected to services, to their community, and to relationships that are important to them.

Our connection to others is vital to our physical and emotional health. Humans are social beings who need places of belonging and mutual support. In our increasingly virtual world, we can feel overwhelmed by the many avenues of connection and yet still feel disconnected. So what can we do?

First, we can take time to self-reflect. We can ask ourselves these questions:

• Who are the people I surround myself with?
• Am I spending too much time alone?
• Are the people, places, and things in my life helping or hindering me?

Second, we can use the various platforms available to us to connect with others. We live in an age where we are accessible (sometimes too accessible), but we can use this for our benefit and well-being.

Lastly, we can remember that our connections or lack of connections can speak to the kind of person we are and are becoming. Belonging, mutual support, and connection are essential to our well-being. I encourage each of us to take the time and care to choose and build loving connections.