10 Abundance Quotes to Tap Into an Attitude of ‘Enough’
They say ‘no man is an island‘, but when you’re home alone feeling sick and tired, some days it can sure feel like you might as well be on a deserted island.
It’s not hard to see why you may be struggling to build new connections or maintain existing friendships when you’re living with chronic migraine, POTS or arthritis. When your illness forces you to spend a lot of time resting in bed or on the couch, you get less chances to spontaneously run into people and to meet up with friends. You may even be in too much pain to have someone come around to hang out or to catch up with loved ones on the phone.
But social isolation and loneliness can literally hurt you and break your heart. That’s because social connections protect us against the negative effects of stress, like decreased immunity, heart problems, anxiety and depression. Just a small encouraging gesture from a friend can trigger the release of stress-relieving hormones.
In fact, having strong relationships doesn’t just make you happier, being connected helps you live longer too.
So is there anything you can do to make new connections, strengthen existing relationships and foster a sense of community when you’re chronically ill?
What works for you depends on your specific health problems, living situation, ability to leave your home and/or handle social stimuli, but here are some strategies you can try to beat loneliness and (re)build your network.
Don’t be hesitant to take the first step. I know that’s not as easy as it sounds when you’ve been hurt, when you’ve been let down by friends, or when you feel like you’re always the one initiating contact. But people can also positively surprise you, and waiting around until someone checks up on you puts you in a more passive position than you deserve. So reach out to the people in your life – call your siblings, text that (former) coworker you used to have fun with or reconnect with old friends you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Embrace the smalltalk. One thing that the corona pandemic taught us, is that having causal interactions while waiting in line at the supermarket, saying hi to the neighbors and chatting with the lady behind the counter have a stronger impact on our mood and mental health than we realized. So as valuable as it is to have strong friendships, you don’t have to be close to people to boost your wellbeing with some smalltalk about the weather.
Join (online) groups or visit social settings. If you’re physically up for it and can handle the mental stimulation, go to places where you can easily connect with others, like church meetings, workshops, a supper club, trivia night or block party. Bond over shared interests on fan pages, by visiting the dog park, watching a big game in a sports bar or joining an (online) movie club.
If you’re looking for people who are more likely to understand what you’re going through, check out patient support groups in your area or online communities about your illness.
Be a good friend. Relationships are a two-way street, and although it’s understandable that you’re absorbed by your pain and problems, you want to take an interest in your friend’s live too. So ask about their adventurous holiday, dating life and work promotions, even when it hurts that you can’t do some of these things right now. Explore new ways to stay in touch and to have fun together. You might end up making new traditions!
Ask for help when you need it. If your health and living situation make it hard to connect with people and maintain meaningful relationships, don’t be afraid to reach out for help when the social isolation and loneliness become too much to bear. Talk to a social worker or support organization in your area about options like a buddy system, professionally led support groups or national hotlines to call when you need someone to talk to.
Get inspired by these 15 connection quotes to feel like you belong – because you do.
Which one of these connection quotes speaks to your heart?
For more heartfelt inspiration, take a look at these 18 kindness quotes to warm your heart, try to be a good friend despite chronic illness and practice one of the 44 acts of kindness anyone can do to spread a little love.
