URG NOT TODAY!

I feel as though today it is so easy to believe the lies we tell ourselves when it comes to socializing with others. I think we tell ourselves that we prefer to be silent to ourselves annoyed and wanting to be unbothered by others. We are so tempted to pull out our phones in new situations with strangers. We put our headphones in when we go to the grocery store or go for walks, avoiding the world around us. We can be completely surrounded by those living their lives right next to us and yet we choose to disengage thinking that the phone in our hands will bring us more comfort or connection than the ones in front of us. 

When we feed our selfish desires we think will be happier by choosing to engage in less small talk or conversations we are actually doing the opposite. Data in psychology has shown us that it is damaging to our health to be so disengaged. We experience more reward when we engage in conversation with strangers and people we have relationships with. Feeding our isolation is damaging.  The TED talk below stresses the correlation between life expectancy and the relationships we share throughout our daily encounters. We constantly miss chances to reach people like the delivery man, your neighbor who walks by your house each day, or the people you share the same public transportation with. The encounters we have with others such as smiles or eye contact can produce a plethora of positive effects on our psychological health, even when we are unaware of it. 

All that to say, we need to make more of a conscious effort to be attentive to those around us, not only for our health but for the health of others. I challenge you to be more cognizant of social interactions in front of us and to be intentional about being approachable to those around us. We are missing opportunities to love and be loved by others all around us.

Prayer

Lord forgive us for being so distracted and choosing our own desires of comfort above you. I pray that you will open our hearts to the hearts of those around us. Give us the motivation and strength to overcome our desires to self-isolate so that we may love others in the way that you have called us to amen.

Inspo:

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https://brenebrown.com/podcast/the-love-prescription-part-1-of-3