Have you ever walked away from a conversation feeling like your entire mood changed. Maybe you felt lighter or maybe you felt like something inside you just shut down. That's the power of relationships.Every connection we have with friends, families, partners, even ourselves leaves a mark on our mental health. Some relationships lift us up. Some leave us questioning our width and some we don't even realize are affecting us until much later.We talk a lot about mental health like it's something we manage on o ...

Connection & Well-being - The World Health Organization found that 25% of people struggled with depression and anxiety during COVID [1] - In 2023, the US Surgeon General called loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection a public health crisis, equating its harm to smoking 15 cigarettes a day [1] - Brandon McDaniel and Sarah Coin defined "technoference" as attachment to devices interfering with face-to-face relationships [1] Micro Moves for Connection - Three micro moves to foster connection: looking up, listening big, and lifting up [1] - Looking up involves shifting focus from devices to people to fully engage in conversations [1] - The University of Texas MCOME's Business School research showed that people with phones in a separate room had more cognitive capacity [1] - Big listening involves paying attention to small details to build trust and rapport [2] - The University of Warwick study states that four minutes of genuine connection can predict someone's actions and words [2] - Lifting up involves checking in with others, showing compassion, and encouraging them to talk about what excites them [2][3] Impact of Connection - Relationships can change the trajectories of lives and careers [1] - Lack of connection has ripples and effects in schools, workplaces, and communities [1]