To last, that is one of our deepest desires. In my last blog post, I discussed how we can last by being consistent with our choices and our character, now let’s dive into a third key area we need to be consistent in, which is CONNECTION!
Connection
Matthew Lieberman, a social neuroscientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, conducted years of research to understand why connection is highly important to human beings. In the end he concluded that “our brains are wired for reaching out to and interacting with others. This social adaptation allows us to be the most successful species on earth.”
However even though we are creatures of connection, there is an epidemic of disconnection and isolation sweeping our generation. Through messages of needing to be independent and self-sufficient and the prevalence of social media and nomadic living we are losing our joy because we are no longer authentically connecting with one another. We have depleted our joy and are disrupting our success because we are no longer consistently connecting with others and that includes connecting with God.
In Joshua 1:8, we are told “This set of instructions is not to cease being a part of your conversations. Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that’s written in it, for then you’ll prosper and succeed” (ISV). We are to daily connect with God through his word in order to be prosperous and have sustainable joy. However if you were to ask individuals when is the last time you spent time in God’s Word or even when is the last time you truly connected with a friend, there would most likely be a long pause in the conversation followed by some excuses as to why they just have not been able to take those actions.
The truth is that we have let the busyness of life and daily distractions rob us of something we were created for. Our birthright is joy and we are wired to connect. Connection isn’t just about being in the same room as someone, rather Brene Brown defines connection as the “energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship. “
Today I encourage you to strengthen your connections by:
- Spending time in God’s Word each morning so you can refuel your joy.
- Making a list of the people you want to connect with regularly and then start to reach out and put those connections in your calendar.
- Committing to a certain amount of time together with friends or family each day or week—without phones, iPads or other distracting technology.
An ancient Chinese Proverb states that “everyone person is connected to everyone they will ever meet by invisible red threads. These threads may stretch or tangle, but they will never break.” Connections are critical for our success and for our sustainable joy, they can stretch, but they cannot be ignored. Today make connecting a consistent practice in your everyday life.
Discussion with Dawn: How do you stay connected to people who are important in your life? How do you stay connected to God?
