Hi! lonely
This month we’ve been focused on the topic of loneliness because it’s really kryptonite to resilience. Feeling lonely makes navigating change well (in other words, resilience) much harder. That’s why it’s the subject of my Think Tank on Resilience next week.
Your responses to this topic have been an avalanche of real experience and a large number of you have talked about feeling lonely when you’re not alone. And the science backs up your observations. Being in a group of people amplifies your feelings at the chemical level – so if you’re around other people and have a momentary feeling of well-being, you’ll feel that well-being more strongly, but if you’re in a group and feel a momentary sense of loneliness, that will be amplified as well.
The antidote is not social contact, but actual connection.
In the workplace it’s much easier to foster contact. “Let’s meet in person” or “why don’t we all jump on zoom to discuss this” or even “I’m hosting a get together!” But not everyone finds connection in those contacts.
If we’re working to decrease loneliness, we can’t play cornhole or host a happy hour and call it done. We need to look more deeply – even ASK – to find out what gives true opportunities for connection.
What do you find fosters real connection at work? I’d like to know! Hit reply and tell me?
And if you’d like to join the Think Tank and you’re not yet registered, you can do that here!
All my best,
Dr. G
