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Our thoughts are transferred into our biology, which means generosity, service, and altruism make us healthier from the inside out while giving us more joy in life.
They say –“people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. There is indeed no doubt that people need people in some capacity. Be it a deep friendship, a social friendship or just a work relationship. Having friends is golden, especially when you’re in your golden years, they are what (or rather who) keep you going and can chase away loneliness and even add to your years.
Friends are just these for fun and games, they can be lifesaving too!
Researchers have defined loneliness as the absence of companionship and the presence of feelings of isolation or a sense of not belonging. Loneliness, stemming from a lack of close friendships, isn’t just a potential gateway to depression; it may also have a detrimental impact on your lifespan. Especially for individuals aged 60 and above, experiencing loneliness appears to heighten the risk of premature death. Interestingly, it’s not close relationships with family members that significantly affect longevity, it’s the depth of your friendships that plays a more crucial role. Those with a rich network of friends tend to outlive those with only a few or none at all. Moreover, fostering close friendships can also help alleviate feelings of loneliness.
In this life-extending equation, it’s a two-way street. Just as your friends contribute to extending your life, you do the same for them. When you spend time with your friends, you can remind them of this life-extending superpower and express gratitude for their role in extending your life. Friends serve as a source of encouragement, motivating you to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well, attending medical checkups, staying active through exercise or other activities like going to the health club and even enjoying the company of a pet. It’s clear that there’s a strong connection between the healthy habits you adopt and how they can be positively influenced by your friendships.
Friendships keep your brain sharp –
If you’re someone who doesn’t have an extensive social circle, take comfort in the idea that quality matters more than quantity when it comes to friendships. Having at least one person who truly understands you, a friend with whom you can share anything and everything with, can significantly contribute to your overall well-being. You don’t need to be the life of the party to benefit from this: studies support the notion that maintaining strong social connections is associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline. Research also indicates that the feeling of loneliness, rather than mere isolation, may be the critical factor in increasing the risk of cognitive issues like dementia in the future. Regardless of the number of friends you have, engaging in social interactions helps keep your cognitive faculties sharp. It’s those who are socially isolated and lack mental stimulation who tend to experience a decline in cognitive abilities as they age.
So, the next time you reach out to a friend for lunch, remember that it’s not just a pleasant social activity but also a boon for your brain!
Be deliberate about who gets your time –
The company you keep profoundly influences who you are and who you become. You’re essentially an amalgamation of the people you spend the most time with. Your focus and the people you choose to surround yourself with have a significant impact on your personal development. So, it’s essential to curate your social circle with care, favoring those who provide support to you, positivity influence you and uplift your spirit, while actively avoiding toxic individuals. Steering clear of toxic people, those who exude negativity and drain your energy, is vital. It’s not about avoiding friends who challenge you; it’s about recognizing that toxic individuals tend to deplete your vitality rather than revitalizing it. Having a community of people who genuinely admire and respect you, who offer unwavering support and encouragement to help you become your best self, plays a significant role in fostering your sense of belonging and connection. This connection extends not only to yourself but also to others and the world in which you exist.
The underlying message here is clear: cultivating meaningful social connections is crucial for preserving and enhancing brain function. Ask yourself this: Who do I want to share my time with, and what kind of person do I aspire to be?
“By Jedidiah Jenkins —
I was asked last week,
‘who is your best friend?’
I don’t know. I don’t use language like that anymore. It doesn’t fit.
I have friends that hold the keys to diffeent doors of my personality.
Some my mischief.
Some my sin.
Some my civic urgency.
Some my history.
Some my rawest confusion and vulnerability.
Some friends, who may not be, ‘the closest’ to me, have the most important key for me in a moment of my life.
Some, who may be as close to my own skin, may not have what I need today. It’s okay if our spouses or partners don’t have every key.
How could they?
It isnt a failure if they don’t open every single door of who you are.
The million-room-mansion of identity cannot overlap perfectly with anyone. But I will say, my closest friends have a key ring on their hip with lots of keys, jingling.”
Takeaway-
As the years roll on, nothing remains static, including friendships. Friendship, like any other relationship, operates on a mutual exchange. It’s essential to maintain your friendships, but the balance need not always be perfectly equal. However, a word of caution, avoid becoming overly invested in a friendship without receiving a fair return.
- Reciprocity plays a pivotal role in healthy friendships.
- Diversify your circle of friends.
- Don’t hinge your social well-being on just one or two individuals.
- Invest your time and effort in nurturing your various friendships,
- Surround yourself with the right people and extend your support to one another.
In our pursuit of “having it all,” we must recognise that it’s our friends who often help us pave the way to achieving this.
