Surround yourself with people who make your heart smile. Lewis Carroll
This was advice given to Alice in wonderland but turns out it's good advice for staying hopeful as well.
Membership matters.
We know that we're wired to be social, to live in tribes or now what we'd call families, genetic and chosen. In the US we're taught that rugged individualism is valued above collaboration and cooperation, but it real life, going it alone is not the best recipe for success or happiness.
I have a ton of evidence and I’m sure you do to. Can you look back on and see when you’ve had the support and encouragement of family and friends? I’ve also benefitted from the support from a teacher and in my sales career I had professional mentors that helped me. I've been able to accomplish more than I would have done on my own.
I’m not talking about dependency on others – I am talking about having some support. Think of it as a scaffold that helps you stay upright and capable of reaching for more.
Today we see all sorts of evidence that being lonely, not having people to turn to is not just sad, it's detrimental to our well-being.
Who makes your heart smile?
