← Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

BITESIZE | Why We All Need to Feel Connected | Johann Hari #176

Apr 22, 2021 11m 56s 18 insights
CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing and themes of an adult nature. ‘When individuals see themselves as part of a connected tapestry of wider meaning, they feel much better about their lives.’ Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my new 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 94 of the podcast with Johann Hari. Johann went on a forty-thousand-mile journey around the world to interview leading experts about what causes depression and anxiety. However, he learnt the most, not from those experts, but from the incredible people on a council estate in Berlin called Kotti. In this clip he shares the heart-warming story of how the residents of this small district of Berlin formed an unlikely community and the profound effects this had on everyone involved. Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/94 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Community Connection

Recognize that feelings of depression and anxiety often stem from a lack of connection, being seen, loved, valued, and having purpose within a community, rather than solely needing medication; actively seek to be together with others.

2. Cultivate Community as Home

Redefine ‘home’ beyond just four walls to include the people around you, actively building relationships where individuals notice and care when you are not there, fostering a profound sense of belonging.

3. Foster Connectedness for Well-being

Actively seek to see yourself as part of a connected tapestry of wider meaning, as this tribal connection, which humans evolved with, leads to feeling much better and more satisfied with life.

4. Join Others to Create Change

Understand that ordinary people can change the world not by isolating themselves, but by joining up with other people to collectively pursue meaningful values and address common issues.

5. Seek Shared Experience in Distress

When feeling isolated and distressed, actively reach out and connect with others, as you may discover that many people share similar feelings, fostering solidarity and reducing the sense of being alone.

6. Integrate Vulnerable Individuals

Actively welcome and integrate vulnerable or marginalized individuals into your community, providing them with a sense of belonging and practical support like housing.

7. Advocate for Loved Ones

When someone you care about is being mistreated or institutionalized without proper support, advocate fiercely for their release and well-being, emphasizing the importance of love and belonging.

8. Seek Unlikely Connections

Actively engage with people from different backgrounds, as these unlikely pairings can lead to profound discoveries of shared experiences and common ground, fostering understanding and community.

9. Take Small Steps to Understand

Be willing to take small, incremental steps to bridge differences and understand people from diverse backgrounds, even if it feels awkward or challenging initially.

10. Engage in Collective Action

When facing common issues like evictions or rising rents, organize and engage in collective action or protest to draw attention to the problem and pressure for change.

11. Sustain Collective Efforts

To achieve significant goals, establish a continuous presence and commitment, like manning a barricade 24/7, and use a system (e.g., a klaxon) to rally support when needed.

12. Support Community Initiatives

Offer resources and support (e.g., furniture, meeting space, food, drinks) to community initiatives, even if there are initial ideological or cultural differences, to foster solidarity and help the cause.

13. Provide Mentorship for Youth

Offer practical help, like homework assistance, to young people who are struggling, as this can significantly improve their performance and well-being.

14. Offer Help to Those

When someone expresses distress or appears to be in trouble, reach out and offer help, as people in the community did for Nuria, even if they initially reject it.

15. Consider Daily Health Drink

Incorporate a daily health drink like AG1 to support digestion, enrich the gut microbiome with beneficial bacteria, and provide plant-based compounds, which can be especially relevant for mood and well-being during winter.

16. Share Positive Content

Spread positivity and love by sharing episodes or content that you find valuable with friends and family to help them feel better and live more.

17. Subscribe to Curated Positivity

Sign up for newsletters or resources (like ‘The Friday Five’) that offer short, curated doses of positivity, including articles, books, quotes, and research, to get ready for the weekend.

18. Subscribe to Podcasts

Subscribe to podcasts you enjoy to ensure you receive new episodes regularly and stay updated with content that helps you feel better and live more.