Mother Theresa is said to have been convinced that
the greatest of all sorrows was to feel alone, unwanted, and to be without human affection. She saw loneliness to be a greater
sorrow than being hungry or homeless or suffering from illness.
To be a social being without friends is to be
deprived of some of the most valuable of life’s experiences. The connectedness, seen in
resilient adults, involves a mutual give and take in relationships paired with high levels of trust, caring and openness as
well as a sense of security and safety. These relationships are not those involving negative qualities like excessive neediness,
manipulation, or a lack of empathy and compassion.
To nurture connectedness we should:
·
Make positive connections a priority in life
·
Connections to other people are vital. However, connections may also involve connectedness to causes,
towns, schools, religions, volunteer endeavors, pets, sports teams, etc. Help patients to reestablish connections..
· As in many other areas it is necessary to take charge of your life when it comes to fostering relationships. Encourage
patients not to wait for someone else to make the first move. Reach out in a positive manner to others. While opening oneself
up to other people involves a certain degree of risk of getting hurt, not having a social network has far greater consequences.
· Throughout
our lives our resilience and our connections are enhanced whenever we act to help other people
· Connections continuously change. Children are born and grow up, jobs and interests may change.
Resiliency
involves the wisdom to modify goals and expectations and to continually improve our ever-changing relationships and connections.
The important thing is to be proactive to ensure the maintenance of vital relationships when changes occur. Encourage connections
with family and friends.