This two-page worksheet offers eight reflections on connection. It starts from the idea that bonding with others supports learning, growth, and well-being, and suggests that getting to know yourself through meditation can become a foundation for connecting with other people. It opens with a brief awareness prompt, asking you to notice why you chose this topic, how your belly, chest, and head each feel when you reflect on it, and when you could apply more mindfulness to it in daily life.
The eight reflections
- Interpersonal bonding matters for learning and growth; we look to each other for interaction and support.
- Meditation can deepen your understanding of yourself, which can foster compassion for others and a clearer sense of your purpose and what you are passionate about.
- That self-connection can show you what makes life meaningful to you and give you a foundation for connecting with others.
- Nurture connection in everyday ways, such as asking someone how they are doing and truly listening.
- Offer your time by volunteering, doing a random act of kindness, or helping someone in need, without expecting anything in return.
- Consider the people you spend the most time with. Are they supportive of you, and are you supportive of them?
- Think about the relationships that are going well and the ones you would like to improve, and look for ways to increase your connection with those people.
- If connecting is hard, look closely at what holds you back. Do you feel inhibited or fearful, or make excuses to isolate yourself?
