What can we do to help others feel connected?
Sep 26, 2020
Our longing for connection is common.
As spiritual beings, we can support others to feel connected and thus also contribute to positive healing of others.
As Brene Brown quotes,
“I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”
Here are 8 tips on how to support others and inquire about their sense of connection.
Trust your feeling that someone is struggling! Keep an eye on, patients your friends or family if you can sense something doesn’t feel right.Most people do not admit to feeling lonely, therefore an open question to see if they want to talk such as “It’s been awhile since we have connected, what interesting things have you been doing with others (or themselves)?”With patients in consultation, we can ask, “Who supports...What can we do to stay connected to others?
Sep 25, 2020
It is important to have a balance of staying connected to others and some time for self reflection.
We can connect with people, places, nature, philosophies and ideas.
2 important questions to help you and others reflect on the need of the spirit to connect :
What helps you feel connected?
What activities do you like doing, that could lead to forming or reigniting your connection (eg bush walking, joining a hiking group, spiritual community, spending time in nature, loved ones )?Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
Connection with ourselves first
Sep 24, 2020
Connecting with ourselves affects how we connect with others.
We all vary in how we feel about connection and ways to experience it.
Understanding what connection means for us, takes time.
Some may connect with feeling at harmony and at peace.
Others may feel connected with the following:
Focusing and clarifying on what they want to do with themselves in livesSpending time in nature, taking time to reflect on our lives
Going for a walk, bike ride
Meditation, worship or prayer
Reading scripture or books of interest
Listening to spirit nurturing podcasts and videos or music
Creative art makingIn the process of self transformation and connecting with our inner being, we are better able to support others in their transformation also.
Consider answering, for yourself, these 2 questions:
How do you help your health partners (patients) to connect within themselves?What prescription do you write for others and yourself that...Benefits of healthy connection
Sep 23, 2020
Research has also shown a lack of connection can cause greater harm to health.
Dr Julianne Holt Lundstan has done extensive research on social connections and the impact of this on wellbeing.
She highlights 5 harms caused by disconnection:
Premature mortalityComparable to the risk of smoking 15 cigarettes a day30% risk greater of having a strokeGreater risk than obesity on healthGreater anxiety and depressionHere are 5 benefits of feeling connected:
50% greater survival than those with less connectionBetter self esteem and empathyStrengthens immune systemBetter emotional regulationBetter blood pressure.Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
Connection is an important need of the spirit!
Sep 22, 2020
Reflect on the times when you have felt disconnected from people, a place, or a spiritual practice.
5 questions to Ask yourself:
What were you experiencing at the time?How were you feeling?What did you need, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually?What do you feel would have made you feel a sense of love, peace and belonging?How did you try to reconnect?We have all felt a sense of disconnection at some point in our lives.
Some may feel this feeling seems to persist forever, the need to belong, or to feel a part of a community of people where we feel love.
Our desire to feel connected stems from the need of our spirit.
We can feel isolated and alone.
There are differences in both, some may be isolated but not feel alone and others may not be isolated and with a large group of people and still feel alone.
Not all connections are positive. Healthy connection is important for our health. It is also important for community health and...
Benefits of healthy communication
Sep 18, 2020
Healthy communication helps us build trust and intimacy with others. We will feel listened to and understood, when we have been able to deliver a message or express emotion to someone, who has received it in such a way that also helps them understand us and themselves. Communication helps us to express emotions and feelings such as love, joy, sadness and anger.When we learn how to convey these in different and meaningful ways, we grow spiritually, nurturing the needs of our spirit as well as those around us.
Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
Ways to improve communication
Sep 17, 2020
Reflect. Consider what is happening for you in the moment and whether or not what you would like to say, (positive or negative) needs to be said at this time.Are you under a lot of stress, could it wait till the morning? Or next week?
Clarity and honesty. Say what you mean and mean what you say Listen. Communication is a reciprocal engagement. Be prepared to actively listen to the person you are communicating with. Ask and clarify if you are uncertain of what is being said. Pay attention. Alternatives. What is it you would like to say and how could it be said or expressed?We may be able to offer a card with words or a picture instead of conversation, we may prefer to write a song.
Are you communicating via text when it would be better face to face?
Is a written letter easier to express yourself, to ensure a conversation isn’t reactionary?
Find alternative ways to express your feelings and emotions, if you don’t have the words to say.
...Barriers to good communication
Sep 16, 2020
There are certain barriers that prevent us from communicating effectively with people.
What are some of these for you?
Have you always been shy and not enjoyed talking?
Do you have unresolved pains and traumas that have caused you to feel silence is the better option to avoid conflict?
Or have you developed an aggressive way of communicating because of built up anger and stress?
Sometimes the experiences we are going through at the time, like work or family pressures, deadlines or financial stress, changes the way we would normally communicate with another.
What is a barrier to your own effective communication?
Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD
Have you ever found it difficult to express how you feel?
Sep 15, 2020
Do you find it sometimes hard to find the words to share what's on your heart and mind?
Have you ever found that your choice of words could have been better to express your heartache pain, or that these messages and emotions could have been better conveyed to avoid harm to others?
Do you find it hard to express joy, even when you are happy?
Communication is an integral part of our lives.
It is a need of the spirit.
We communicate in many different ways, through our eyes, body language, voice and mediums like singing, art, dance and music. We communicate face to face or via text, telephone, email, mail or video calls.
Communication is an expression of how we think and feel and it impacts on our quality of life and relationships.
How we choose to convey our message also affects our relationships.
Having people we trust to connect with on a deeper level, to share feelings honestly and openly, allows for authentic expression.
Only in a safe...
Tips to help gain a deeper sustained happiness
Sep 11, 2020
Refrain from over identifying with limiting beliefs.
Avoid attaching yourself to pleasures that provide false security.
Don’t replay in your mind painful events that lead to afflicted emotions.
Remember, having life changing, tragic or traumatic events will happen. Recognizethat your suffering and helplessness are not inescapable distresses.
Have a spiritual practice that you consistently implement that is aligned with your values and that helps you modulate emotions, think creatively, build self awareness and gratitude, increases your heart/emotional intelligence and most importantly your spiritual intelligence.Honouring and Serving,
Simran K. Rattan MD
Simran K. Rattan MD