Emotional Wellness & National New Friend Day
Today in our department we are discussing emotional wellness and it just so happens to be national new friend day. Coincidence or not these two go together like peanut butter and jelly.
It can be discouraging and challenging to make new friends, but it is crucial to our happiness levels. While it is great to have a best friend or a core group of friends, adding new friends to your life can help you grow as a person, both mentally and socially. When we challenge ourselves to talk to new people, make ongoing conversations, and schedule future plans, it improves our lives (even if there is some social anxiety that has to be dealt with).
There is a difference between making friends who are strictly virtual and those that are in-person. When we socialize in person it is a lot easier to listen well, have grace, and discuss hard topics with one another. This is where digital wellness considerations come into play. How much time are we spending connecting with people on social media? Does that time exceed the time we spend connecting with people in person? It is easy to get out of balance with this, but that is why we must pause and consider it from time to time.
When we have stimulating conversations in person while doing an activity or enjoying some food it can boost our mood tremendously. In Philippians 2:4, the Bible says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” When was the last time you sat and listened to someone else’s interests instead of waiting for the opportunity to turn the conversation back to what you wanted to talk about?
