The Importance Of Human Connection

“The needs of the spirit are as crucial to health as those individual organs which make up the body.”   -Florence Nightingale

Isolation is a word many have become all too familiar with during this pandemic, especially for those who aren’t able to be in quarantine with loved ones. And as much as we might have enjoyed having a little more downtime these last few months, I think all of us are longing for more human connection in our lives.

It’s amazing what human connection does for our souls. It can lift us when we are down, comfort us when we are sad, and heal our hearts. Not only does it heal our hearts, it can keep our bodies healthy as well. There have been study after study which demonstrate the phenomenon of human connection to ones overall health:

In one study 10,000 men were followed for development of heart disease. What the study found was that whether or not these men answered “yes” or “no” to the question, “Does your wife show you her love?” predicted the development of angina over the next five years (source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/798490 ).

In another study it showed that patients receiving cardiac catheterization who either were not married or who did not have a close confidant were three times more likely to die over the next five years than those who had a spouse or close confidant. (source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1729574 )

Study after study has shown that human connection matters spiritually, emotionally, and yes, even physically. It has the ability to lift any burden, lessen any anxiety, and put life back into proper perspective.  I’ve experienced it in my own life – days days when a simple call or text or email has relieved burdens I’d been carrying around all day and helped to again lift my spirits to that place of gratitude for the blessings in my life.  All from something as simple as a human connection.

Find a way to connect with someone you care about today. Even if you can’t connect in person, take a few minutes to pick up the phone and call, or write an email, or send a nice text, or write a thoughtful note, or drop off a fun package on the doorstep…find a way to connect with someone you care for and see how impactful it is on healing whatever ails you.  

~Amy Rees Anderson (author of the book “What Awesome Looks Like: How To Excel in Business & Life” )

1 Comment

  • Tyler Morin says:

    Love your articles! I have seen the need with myself and my family! Thanks for the article!

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