Module 9: Community and Isolation

For our ancestors, community was everything. Tribe was survival, trust, love, and connection.

Modern life has drastically changed, and sadly 60% of people across the world report feeling lonely and isolated. We are the most interconnected we’ve ever been yet – we’re the most starved for true human connection.

Your brain is an organ of connection, so as our social paradigm shifts more and more towards isolation, it’s no wonder that rates of loneliness, depression and anxiety are on the rise.

New digital, social platforms have taken the place of true in-person connection but for the sake of our collective mental health, we need to continue to nourish our real, in person relationships and communities.

While digital relationships can be helpful in many ways, our brains evolved to thrive on in-person interactions so it makes intuitive sense that they are critical for helping us feel our best.

The data is clear about the risks of social isolation. Loneliness has a real and significant impact on both our physical and mental health.

Simple, small steps to foster more connections yield meaningful results as your modern brain is craving true human interaction. Steps I’ve seen work for my patients are often simple: Make a list of close relationships to focus energy on or create a framework for more socializing like joining a sports league or getting involved in a spiritual group or non-profit.

I hope one major result of this course for you is to inspire work to deepen and strengthen your human connections. Be sure to review the resources in this module for more ideas on making meaningful connections in your life.