The Surprising Strength of"Weak" Social Ties
It's long been known that a community of supportive relationships improves our quality of life and can even help us recover from illness. . Regularly interacting with a wide variety of social ties, both "weak" and "strong", enhances our satisfaction. A rich diversity of ties provides more significant benefits to well-being, and "weak" social ties can prove just as important to life satisfaction as core, or "strong" ties. . There you can find the people who cheer, serve, support, comfort, educate, motivate, and entertain you.
Claire gets cheered up by going to the library and chatting with her favorite librarian every week. Sherry gets great joy from her Sunday breakfasts at a local diner because the manager and her favorite waitress are nice to her. . I remember discussing Anna Karenina on an airplane with a wise economics professor, and finding meaningful moments of joy with street musicians and performers.
. When you show kindness to a stranger, your seemingly small act might stay in their memory as a source of support and positivity. Everyone needs to feel significant in the eyes of another. You could be that person for someone in your extended circle. That's why it's so important to reach out to people around you, especially when they're going through hard times.
When we feel blue or lonely, we tend to turn down social engagements, either to avoid the imagined embarrassment of being the only sad person in a group or because socializing with people we don't know well can be awkward at first. . Being open to both our strong and weak ties allows us to benefit from the comfort, connection, and community they provide.
A. All of those connections matter — and so do you B. Harvard researcher Hanne Collins discovered something new C. Even those we meet only once can leave a lasting impression D. Our shared kindness and familiarity offer me a sense of community E. Interacting with the weak ties encourages us to behave more professionally F. But saying yes, despite the hesitation, offers an opportunity to feel less lonely G. So notice, pay attention to, and be grateful for your big, wide world of loose social ties |
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