You and I are social animals. Our two-legged and four-legged friends are also “social” creatures. They are usually in pairs or in herds. Like us humans, these animals apparently also value, long for, and enjoy companionship. The loners among them usually do not survive long.
Most obviously, social life—a sense of belonging, a comfortable feeling of security in numbers, a natural mental sense of community—is essential to health, mental and otherwise. That social nature starts the day we are born, in the arms of our mother, nurtured in the crib, and developed into a complete positive mental state through interactions with parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends.
All these experiences enable us to develop lasting relationships and a rewarding mental health, which affects and influences all other lives we touch. Human beings’ capacity to live a stable and happy life, and our survival as a species, heavily depend on our social skills, attitude, and social behavior.
### The Importance of Social Connection
The history of mankind shows that cavemen started forming small groups, literally for security and survival against the harsh and unforgiving environment, and vicious attacks from predatory animals. That dependency on one another is still very evident today, even in this modern, technologically advanced society of ours.
Indeed, no man is an island. A loner is, comparatively, at a much graver risk of ill-health and attrition. Like our need for proper nutrition and shelter, humans also need that sense of belonging—within the family, among friends, in a community, in society, and in the world at large. These support-group structures and interactions—emotional, recreational, and even informational—are vital to people’s health and life.
The last has led to the popularity and proliferation of social media. This modern-day phenomenon is a tangible testimony to the value of social behavior as a natural need of Homo sapiens.
A lonely person, alone without friends, is doomed to be more depressed and more likely to suffer ill-health, or even take their own life, compared to another lonely individual who has a ton of family and friends providing love, friendship, inspiration, and moral support.
### The Power of Belonging
A sense of belonging keeps us connected with our fellow human beings—within our own circle, our community—conferring upon us the reward of acceptance, a gratifying inner satisfaction that we are “in” and “one of them.” It is akin to being a member of a club, fraternity, sorority, or party.
This sense of belonging is fundamental for our emotional and physical well-being. It is a powerful prescription that effectively enables each of us to cope with sometimes unfriendly and harsh environments and social orders.
### Attitude and Social Skills
Our social skills, vital to our acceptance as members of a group or community, are developed or impeded by our attitude. Like social prowess, attitude significantly impacts our life and health. Both are prerequisites to health, happiness, and inner peace.
Show me a man with a bad attitude, and I will show you one abandoned by his friends and scorned by strangers he irritated and riled. A good attitude complements and boosts our social skills and acceptability to belong.
### Words of Wisdom for a Positive Attitude
Here are some inspiring quotes I have come across—philosophical parachutes in life for those who, like many of us, sometimes find themselves falling towards discouragement and despair. With the proper attitude, these sage proverbs lift our spirits by allowing us to view and accept the trials and tribulations of life in their most positive light.
– Anthony J. D’Angelo, in *The College Blue Book*, said, “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”
– Oscar Wilde said, “If you don’t get everything you want, think of the things you don’t get that you don’t want.”
– Voltaire expressed it beautifully: “Life is like a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.”
– An ancient Persian proverb puts things in perspective: “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.”
– Cavett Robert offers these poignant words: “If you don’t think every day is a good day, just try missing one.”
Indeed, every day is a good day, although some are better than others. Each day is a gift. Not waking up to another day is a deadly waste, but not appreciating each new day as we open our eyes in our journey through life is a tragedy.
How we greet the day depends greatly on our attitude. Attitude impacts our health, our life, and our everyday happiness and success.
### The Impact of Attitude
A person with a chip on their shoulder, a negative attitude, or a pessimistic view of life will obviously be miserable most of the time. Conversely, as Annette Goodheart brilliantly points out: “Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life.”
Happiness is basically an attitude. Gaining inner peace is an attitude. We have that God-given power to feel what we want to feel, and we can even psyche ourselves—I do.
Our attitude and social behavior play an important role here.
In a world where global peace is still a dream, a world beset with economic crises, terrorism, greed and corruption, shortages of energy, food, and water, global warming, and its devastating effects on typhoons, earthquakes, and flooding, good social skills and attitude are among our best weapons against helplessness, despair, and depression. They truly impact our health and life.
With all these complex problems confronting us, we often find ourselves in the gutter of hopelessness, where, as Oscar Wilde suggests, we can look up at the heavens and “see the stars.”
Indeed, a positive attitude and a happy outlook—especially these days—can help us tremendously in conquering fears, insecurities, and dilemmas. Without total surrender, when we sometimes lose or fail, we should remind ourselves to get up and fight even harder.
After all, “defeat is not bitter unless you swallow it,” as Joe Clark states.
To this, I will add my own: “No one can succeed in life who does not have the courage to fail,” and, “The greatest risk in life is not taking any risk at all.”
Someone wisely said, “You cannot adjust the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sail.” Very true, indeed. Simple words of wisdom that could make our day, if not our lives.
### Taking Responsibility and Showing Compassion
But, of course, we should not simply leave everything to God. We must do our share. He promises to help those who help themselves.
While we cannot cure the cancer of poverty in our country, we— as more blessed individuals—can at least open our hearts to help the homeless and the hungry, and gain that sense of satisfaction and inner peace.
As I have stated before, let us not wait for surgery to open our hearts. Let our social behavior, good attitude, and compassion for our fellowmen reign.
As I live my life each day, I remind myself of an ancient proverb that says, “To everyone is given the key to heaven; the same key opens the gates to hell.” It’s indeed a matter of personal choice.
And that choice inevitably depends on our attitude in life.
Some people believe their fate is predestined and that they can’t do anything about it. Others, inspired by a good attitude and a positive social frame of mind, design, create, and chart their own destiny.
Finally, I strongly believe that leaving this world after this life is not a tragedy. Dying without significance, without making a difference, without leaving behind a good legacy as a social being, is.
Let’s all develop good social skills and a positive attitude to help us enjoy life. It’s a potent prescription for health and happiness.
***
*The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board, and staff.*
https://asianjournal.com/life-style/health-wellness/social-life-impacts-health-happiness/
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