Emotional Connection and Good Health
Emotions get a bad rap in our culture, and this creates a dangerous form of emotional illiteracy. Our bodies and brains have a constant stream of sensations, thoughts and feelings, providing a sense of which we are, what we want and what we need. Trying to shut our emotions off is hazardous to our health. Learning to speak the language of our emotions and our bodies can helps live a healthier and happier life?
This information really challenges the “I am a rock, I am an island,” socialization process for men, which also has effected more and more women, as our society has promoted professional success and devalued investing time in nurturing relationships. I am afraid the pathological self-reliance idealized in our culture is rooted in the degrees of heart traumas people live through and then ultimately, live with.
How do we promote connection in our daily lives?
1. Make time to cuddle up. My cats curl up with each other and sleep contently every day. The same can hardly be said for most people in our culture, including those who live with a partner.
2. Understand the biological imperative to be part of a group. It may be easier to do everything on your own, but you will go farther and last longer if you take the time to do things with friends, family and loved ones. Lodge says, “Reconnecting with your community becomes a life-affirming, lifesaving and urgent priority.”
3. Invest in and value your primary relationship. Men who are married live longer than men who are not. This may be credited to their wives’ emotional connections. A woman’s death cuts about five years off her husband’s life expectancy. Men would benefit greatly from putting more effort into building an emotional infrastructure.
4. Reach out to others. So if many of us are always waiting for the other person to make the first move. Do not wait. Start. Find a concert you want to attend, and invite a friend or loved one to join you. Have a group of people over for dinner. Talk to the person exercising next to you at the gym.
5. Turn off the TV, and tune in to your relationships. So many people rely on the constant chatter of the television set to keep them company as they decompress after a long day. While the news can be a constant companion, it’s not the same as a real- time conversation–or silent moment–with a loved one or friend.
Related posts:
