In recent years, relationships and how we communicate have changed drastically.
Living in a digital age means that many of our social interactions are done online
rather than face-to-face and despite being constantly connected, people are lonelier
than ever before. Modern life can create new challenges for our relationships, and
globally we’ve seen how societies are becoming more and more divided. Reaching
out and connecting with those around us is paramount. In this series ‘Let’s Talk’, we
ask the experts for some insight and guidance. This issue we look at how to keep
friendships alive over time...LET’S
TALK
I
n times when our health and
wellbeing need a boost, diet, exercise
and stress are some of the first things
we tend to look at, but it’s about time
friendship was added to the list. One
of the world’s largest studies on health
and happiness, The Harvard Study of
Development, found that in terms of
happiness, close relationships trump
money and fame, and are far better
predictors of longevity than class,
IQ or genes. The study also found that
loneliness is a risk factor as powerful as
smoking and alcoholism for early death.
Clinical psychologist Mary Grogan is
also a firm believer in the power of
friendship. “Close, healthy relationships
keep us healthy, well and connected.
I think finding your tribe is one of the
most important things in life,” she says,
and has some helpful advice on how to
approach common challenges.
TRIBE
Find your
Finding true connection
If you feel like your friendships are
waning, there are plenty of ways to
meet new people. Introduce yourself
to any unfamiliar faces at parties, join
a sports team, gym or club, attend a
meet-up group, or put your hand up
for volunteering. In Mary’s experience,
meeting people is not the difficult part;
it’s being open enough for a meaningful
connection to form.
“I think a lot of us have done those
things; we have joined the music group
or the sports team, and found that even
though we are all doing the same thing,
there’s no one that we really click with.
I think if you find yourself in that
situation, it might be good to look
at what you’re doing to keep yourself
separate or distant from people. Be open
and curious about how you might be
holding yourself back or how your old