Community: How Finding The Right Social Circle Can Extend Your Life
A warning as I begin this blog post: I am a big fan of community! My desire for more community was one of the reasons that I decided to relocate to one of the happiest places to live and work - Brighton.
But what is community? And how can it extend our life?
Here I explore how community helps us live longer and happier lives. I also share 3 direct ways in which community assists in helping us live longer.
I also detail how Group Therapy can help all of us to connect to those communities that are so important for our mental and physical health as well as our overall longevity.
What Is Community?
According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review ‘Community is both a feeling and a set of relationships among people.’ Furthermore they share that ‘Members of a community have a sense of trust, belonging, safety, and caring for each other’.
All sounds rather lovely right?
But How Can Community Help Us Live Longer?
One of the major ways that community can help us live longer is because having a sense of belonging to, and being part of, a community can counteract loneliness. Research shows that loneliness can have an impact on mental health as well as our physical health and therefore how long we live.
Both Susan Pinker and Marta Zaraska would agree with this as their research shares how social interaction and community play a big part in us living longer lives.
3 Specific Ways That Community Can Help Us Live Longer
Social Support: A strong community provides emotional support, reducing stress and its related health risks. Having friends, family, or neighbours to rely on can positively impact mental health, which, in turn, affects physical well-being.
Reducing Isolation: Loneliness and isolation can have adverse effects on health. A vibrant community provides opportunities for social interaction, reducing the risks associated with isolation.
Sense of Purpose: Being part of a community often gives individuals a sense of purpose and belonging, which can positively impact mental health and overall well-being.
In essence, a supportive and healthy community can create an environment that fosters well-being, and mitigates various factors that can contribute to health issues, ultimately contributing to longer and healthier lives.
What About If We Find It Hard To Connect With A Community?
Not all of us find it easy to be around others or connect with others for a wide variety of reasons. Some of us might find it hard not to feel lonely even when we are surrounded by others. If we find ourselves in this place we might find it difficult to feel part of any community.
If this is the case for you, joining Group Therapy could be a supportive step towards gaining more of a sense of community - both inside of, and outside of, Group Therapy.
5 Ways That Group Therapy Can Help You Gain A Sense of Community
Belonging: Group Therapy offers a sense of community by uniting us with a common goal, making us part of a cohesive group striving towards similar aims.
Shared Experiences: Within Group Therapy, we are surrounded by peers who likely share comparable struggles. Sharing and listening to each other's stories creates a profound sense of connection and reduces feelings of isolation.
Social Skills Development: Participating in Group Therapy is an opportunity for enhancing our social skills and communication abilities. Through consistent interaction and relating to others, it cultivates our capacity to build relationships beyond the therapy space.
Addressing Loneliness: Group Therapy provides a space to explore and express our true selves. Over time, this fosters comfort and confidence, reducing the sense of loneliness and enabling us to be more authentic both within and outside the Group Therapy setting.
Acceptance and Empowerment: The environment in Group Therapy encourages acceptance, empowering individuals to embrace their true selves. This acceptance not only nurtures a sense of community within the group but also bolsters the confidence to engage with various communities outside of the therapy setting.
The Group Therapy setting not only addresses feelings of loneliness but also cultivates social skills, confidence, and a genuine sense of belonging. The impact of being a part of Group Therapy extends beyond the therapy sessions into various facets of your life e.g. empowering you to reach out to others and become part of what happens in your local area thereby fostering a greater sense of community.
And, as we know, a greater sense of community is one of the factors that can lead to a longer and healthier life.