Have you ever wondered why individuals who are happy, are well, happy?
As much as we do not like to admit it, most individual health and wellness starts with a foundation of a strong social support system. In this article, we delve into why social support systems (the people and ideas you surround yourself with) make such a big impact in individual wellness. Keep reading until the end to find out how to assess your social support health!
American Bison are known for being steadfast animals. Bison have an iconic characteristic that is fairly unusual for herd animals. Instead of the herd scrambling for their lives when a predator pursues and injures one of their own, bison will form a protective circle around their injured kin for additional protection.
Neat, right?
More than just neat, this characteristic is why the American Bison is the U.S. symbol of unity, resilience and healthy landscapes and communities after Congress passed the Bison Legacy Act in April 2016.
And No! This is not an article about Bison!
What I want to have you understand is that we as humans can learn a tremendous amount from bison and their strong social support systems. When we fall down (both literally and figuratively) who will be there to pick us up?
In my book review on Into the Wild, I discuss how the main subject of the story realizes that a longing for isolation does not ultimately lead to a happier life. Furthermore, building meaningful relationships with people can create better individual wellness and a better community.
I define Individual Wellness as:
Finding meaning and fulfillment in all aspects of life that brings a symbiotic benefit to both the individual and their community.
Having not only a sense of community, but purpose within a community is the foundation for a happy and healthy individual. When you can actively contribute to the well-being and promotion of others health, this boots your health, too!
This can be as simple as:
Calling or texting a friend to let them know you're thinking about them
Complimenting a co-worker on a task they did well
Baking or cooking a healthy meal for a sick family member
Volunteering for a local charity
Signing up for a group goal or challenge (ie. 5K run for raising funds for cancer research)
Sometimes we have to be the ones to reach out first in order to be reached out to. Offering eye contact, a smile, a head nod, and a "hello" to a person all make you more approachable. If you are more approachable, then your social network will keep growing!
In a 2017 meta-analysis, research has recognized a link between social isolation and loneliness and putting people at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and poorer mental health outcomes (Leigh-Hunt, et. al. 2017).
In a world where technology is king, it is easier than ever to connect with people. More so, there are many ways to join groups and forums than can build a great sense of community. Social platforms like Facebook (Meta) and Reddit are great examples as they build pages for groups looking for common interests. There are exercise platforms like Peloton and Fitbit that have even integrated previously self-isolated workouts into a fun, welcoming, but also competitive community. We do need to be weary, though, as too much of anything is usually not a good thing! We need to remember that tangible relationships are still very important also! We should not get so caught up in our online lives that we forget about our offline lives.
Below outlines research confirming the link of not only being a part of a group, but feeling connected to the group you are a part of. This is key to improved thoughts, behaviors, and overall well-being.
Wakefield et. al. in a 2022 research paper describes the concept of The Social Cure perspective. This is defined as an approach to investigate the impact social groups have on thoughts and behaviors on their members. The benefit of what is known as Social Prescribing, or enrolling individuals in family, community and/or hobby groups, enhances the individuals health and well-being -- so long as the individual is able to experience a subjective sense of belonging to the group.
So How Do You Evaluate Your Social Support Health? Below are some questions to ask yourself:
Do the people you surround yourself with make you feel good about yourself?
Who is always there for you at your low points?
Who do you call to tell your good news to? How about bad news?
Who do you think is a good role model based on the way they live their life?
What specific traits does your role model have?
If you are struggling to find one or more person who you can count on, below are some ways to branch out and find the support you need to be a better you. Just remember, relationships take time to build, and your goal should be to build that relationship, which means being a support for that person, too.
Volunteering
Find a cause you believe in and see what your local community has to offer. You are not only doing something good, but you are surrounding yourself with people who have the same interests as you!
Join a social club or a gym
If there are no volunteer opportunities, there are always groups that you can join! Some may be free, and some may require a membership, but putting yourself out there to a new group can provide so many opportunities that you may have not even known were there!
Find an online platform
This is great for the introverts of the world. It can sometimes be scary going out to a social event if you struggle being social. This is where an online platform can be an amazing way to open yourself up to a new community. Have an interest or a love of something? Google it and I am sure you will find so many online communities that you can start participating in!
Read
Okay. Maybe you aren't ready for an online platform let alone an in-person community. A really great way to break the ice is to start reading books. Find books that provide information and stories that will motivate you to attain your goals. Autobiographies and Self-Help books can be super powerful to open you up to someone else's struggles and how they eventually overcame them. This provides a safe space to learn and grow at your own pace. And who knows, it may inspire you to start reaching out to other communities, too!
So let's all be like our Bison friends and support each other. I hope you can take this information to help you find your social support system but also realize that you may be someone's social support, too!
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