I was recently thinking about William Glasser, a teacher and mentor of mine, who taught about the need for connection and involvement with others. He taught that every person has just two basic human needs: To Love and To Be Loved, and To Feel Worthwhile To Yourself and To Others. I was thinking about his words because I see how seemingly disconnected we are becoming from one another. Our phones/tablets/computers, the internet, social media, divisive politics, time stresses and competing needs all contribute to a connection distancing that we are experiencing culturally today.
Human connection and touch are fundamental aspects of our lives that helps us thrive and grow as individuals. It is the deep sense of understanding, empathy, and love that we share with one another that makes our bonds stronger and our lives more meaningful.
Through human connection, we form relationships with those around us, from family members and friends to colleagues and acquaintances. And these relationships play a crucial role in our mental and emotional wellbeing. When we feel connected to others, we experience higher levels of happiness, contentment, and satisfaction in our lives.
In addition, human connection helps us to develop a sense of purpose and belonging. It gives us the opportunity to share our experiences, learn from one another, and contribute to a larger community. Without connection, we may feel isolated, unsupported, and alone, which can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety.
There are many ways to build and maintain human connections. From simple acts of kindness to deep conversations and shared experiences, every moment we spend connecting with others can have a profound impact on our lives. The simple act of listening to another person is a high-powered act of connecting. And, even in this digital age, there is no substitute for face-to-face human interaction.
I write this as a reminder of how important and necessary it is for us to connect with one another not simply digitally, but in real time, face-to-face conversational interactions. I urge parents to think about this idea that we meet our basic human needs via connections and involvement with others because I see our children slipping more and more away from human contact and connection as they go deeper and deeper into digital connecting and on-line play. Digital relationships alone simply will not foster the level of involvement necessary to help children, young adults, and adults of all ages to get their basic human needs of love and worth consistently met.
In conclusion, human connection is essential to our wellbeing and happiness. Without it, we may feel lost, alone, isolated, rejected and without direction. So, let’s all take the time to connect with those around us, build meaningful relationships and enjoy the benefits of human connection and touch.
Be well, joe cozzo
