Easy daily ways to feel more connected

I’ve got some legitimate skills: in no particular order, making pesto, finding lost LEGO pieces, and having debates in my head. That last one might be my specialty. I work for myself and by myself, tumbling around thoughts and words all day. But it doesn’t stay at my desk. I get into internal beefs, turning imagined conversations and arguments over and over. I need to find ways to pull out of my head, to feel more connected and less isolated every day. Getting out of your head One difficulty is that it’s normal to be in your head. “It’s always there and comfortable. It’s reassuring to you and makes you feel good,” says Sara Lazar, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School. “We all have that voice. The problem is that voice is a distraction and drowns out everything else.” Engaging with others challenges your assumptions, she says. It forces you to say, “I never thought of that.” Also, it diminishes some loneliness. “You feel heard, seen, and respected,” Lazar says. “It helps the other person feel connected to you, and with that, you feel less disconnected from the world.” Forging a connections A couple of years ago, I experimented with saying hi to 10 people for 10 days. It worked beautifully. People became three-dimensional. The place I live felt warmer and I felt more a part of it. I still try to keep it up, just to remain engaged. And I looked for other chances to feel more connected and less isolated with help from two ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Mental Health Mind body medicine Relationships Source Type: blogs