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BITESIZE | The Power of Social Connection for a Happier, Healthier Life | The Happy Pear #270

May 12, 2022 13m 6s 10 insights
Connection is what makes us human, and community and friendships are so important for our health. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests. Today’s clip is from episode 38 of the podcast with Stephen and David Flynn, otherwise known as the Happy Pear.  They have a mission to create a healthier, happier world and have built a community around their café of the same name in their hometown in Ireland. In this clip, they explain how fundamental community is to our happiness and health and why connecting with others can bring us joy. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/38 Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com. Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Community Connection

Actively make time to see friends and connect with others, as loneliness is a leading cause of disease and community is number one for longevity, health, and happiness.

2. Seek Out Your Unique Tribe

Actively seek out and connect with people who share your unique values and passions, using the internet to find niche communities, to feel more connected, united, and happier.

3. Cultivate Self-Love

Prioritize actions that cultivate self-love and bring you back to the present moment, as a full cup of self-love is essential before you can support others.

4. Practice Present Moment Awareness

Regularly catch yourself to step out of the ‘race’ of being busy, breathe, and appreciate the present moment, noticing simple beauties like birds or leaves to win the race of life.

5. Adopt Cold Water Therapy

Engage in cold water swimming, ideally at sunrise, to bring you back to the present moment, invigorate your immune system, and improve mental health.

6. Combine Cold Water & Community

Enhance the benefits of cold water swimming by sharing tea and conversation with others afterward, fostering community, friendship, and joy.

7. Create Inviting Public Spaces

Consider creating a welcoming physical space, like a bench in your garden, to encourage strangers to sit, talk, and potentially form new friendships and community connections.

8. Initiate Small Connections

Overcome initial hesitation by offering a small gesture, like sharing food, to strangers; even if initially rejected, persistence can lead to conversation and connection.

9. Leverage Social Media for Meetups

Use ‘of the moment’ digital platforms like Snapchat to organize spontaneous physical meetups, transforming online connections into real-world community gatherings.

10. Daily Gut Health Drink

Consume AG1 daily to support digestion and enrich your gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria and plant-based food sources.