Human Connection Makes The Difference

Focusing on others can change your day for the better

I ain't lookin' for praise or pity
I ain't comin' 'round searchin' for a crutch
I just want someone to talk to
And a little of that human touch
-Human Touch by Bruce Springsteen¹

How often did someone ask you last week, “How’s it going?” Did you respond with something like, “I’m good” or “fine.” Those words roll off the tongue, often without a smile, as we go about our day. Recently, a coworker and I devised different adjectives for each day to avoid repeating rote answers. We came up with:

• “Marvelous” Monday

• “Terrific” Tuesday

• “Wonderful” Wednesday

• “Thankful” Thursday

• “Fantastic” Friday

Yeah, I know. This reeks of a bit of toxic positivity. But that wasn’t the intent. It is more about NOT giving the answer that people expect. It’s also about tuning your mind into the positive and creating connections with others. Maybe it will cause a person to pause and think. You likely have tough things you are dealing with at work and in your personal life. You are not alone! I won’t burden you with my list, but I am in the same boat. Connection makes a difference, as highlighted by an article from Berkeley ExecEd² :

Making healthy connections goes beyond simply avoiding feelings of loneliness and isolation. Our relationships impact all dimensions of our well-being, including physical and mental health and our ability to flourish at work and in every other facet of life.

Here’s a simple needle mover for me when I’m having a tough day. Think about a way you can connect with one person. Just one. Go with your gut. It doesn’t have to take long, and more often than not, it takes the focus off of me and makes me feel more connected to those around me. That’s the secret. We were made to connect with others, not to be lone rangers. There’s something about serving others that binds us together as humans.

Did someone come to mind as you read this? Maybe it’s someone you haven’t talked to in a long time. A sibling, a parent, a child, and an old friend. Hearing from you may be the lifeline they are waiting for. Or perhaps there is someone at work you usually give a head nod to, and you should pause for 5 minutes and ask them a real question about their life.

What could you do to change the trajectory of your day and your week? I’ve talked about how much I love voice texts. Try it. Turn your “fine” or “good” into a “GREAT!” and mean it. Everyone is fighting a battle that we know nothing about. Make a difference for someone else! It will change you the most. Make it a FANTASTIC week!

1. Human Touch - Bruce Springsteen

2. The importance of connection