Today's fast paced world is a world where performance is everything. A world where results define your worth. It's all about image or what social media status we have. A world that chases happiness from the outside-in. However, true happiness comes from the inside-out .
We can lose focus on how to obtain a true state of happiness versus the appearance of happiness. We must chase after a state of happiness. Isolation is the killer of happiness. We are not meant to be lonely. We are designed for connection.
Connection with others brings a deep sense of happiness; material things do not. Research suggests that isolation affects our state of happiness. According to cognitive neurologist, Dr. Caroline Leaf, in the article 3 Mental Self-Care Habits of the Happiest People, “When we are isolated, our cortisol levels rise, which can cause low grade inflammation across the brain and body, making us feel ill, reducing blood flow to the brain and upsetting our mental clarity and our mood - isolation literally makes us lose our perspective!” According to research from Tulane University in the article Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health, mental and physical health are interconnected.
Social isolation’s many adverse health consequences include sleeplessness and reduced immune function. Loneliness is associated with higher anxiety, depression, and suicide rates. Isolation and loneliness are also linked to poor cardiovascular health and cognitive function:
A study led by an epidemiologist at Newcastle University concluded that deficiencies in social relationships are associated with a higher risk for coronary heart disease and stroke.
A 2018 study published in The Journals of Gerontology concluded that loneliness was associated with a 40 percent increase in the risk of dementia.
With that said, go out into the community. Get involved. Volunteer at a local non-profit, such as Butler’s Coffee. You can even get involved in a local church. A great one is Greater Works Christian Church. Have coffee with friends or schedule a weekly dinner with family. Get connected. Your community is waiting.
Sincerely, Adriana Salcedo Beauty for Ashes, International
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