Why Your Mental Fitness Relies on Human Connections

This post is an example of the content I share every Friday in my Living by Experience Magazine. If you’d like your free copy, just click here.

Most mornings (as long as it’s doesn’t rain in Vancouver), I start my day with a morning run. During one of those morning runs, my running coach brought up the importance of having meaningful connections with others. He asked, “how many people would you check in on in person, via phone, or text?” It made me realize that I have a lot of connections in my life, but the more critical list could use a few more names. Maybe yours could too?

Mental and physical fitness

It’s important to recognize that our mental and physical fitness are not separate entities but part of the same whole body. Just as we prioritize exercise to keep our bodies in shape, we need to prioritize human connections to keep our minds healthy and happy. It’s essential to have a network of supportive people who we can turn to when we need someone to talk to or simply to hang out with.

I know that some people might be hesitant to make new connections or maintain existing ones due to a fear of rejection or vulnerability. As a coach, author and public speaker, I have to consider myself a “trained extrovert,” but by nature, I’m an introvert who doesn’t like meeting new people. However, I think it’s worth the effort to push through those feelings and reach out to people because human connections can add so much value to our lives. Even small gestures, like checking in on a friend via text or phone call, can make a significant difference.

More than internet friends

As someone who doesn’t love networking meetings, I prefer to find other ways of making meaningful connections in both personal and professional settings. I encourage everyone to take the time to build their networks intentionally. It’s not about the number of people you know but the quality of the relationships you have.

So, let’s be more than just internet friends. Text me at 604-210-8668, so I can add you to my phone and check in on you every once in a while. I believe that we can all benefit from having a supportive network, and I want to do my part in building one.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the connections we have in our lives and consider whether there are any gaps that we can fill. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people or make new connections, as it can add so much value to your life. Let’s prioritize mental health, just like we prioritize our physical health, and build a network of supportive people who we can turn to when we need it.

P.S. Questions? Text me: 604-210-8668. Your support means the world to me, so if this post helped you, please consider buying a book (for you), a coffee (for me), or checking out a more in-depth course (for free). Thanks! 🙂