Thanks for signing up to all the new readers! Here are some nuggets about how networks shape your wellbeing, relationships and community to help you actively cultivate yours.
Wellbeing
Do you think you could describe the difference between loneliness and solitude? Solitude and Solidarity: On loneliness and belonging in contemporary America by Ian Corbin is an insightful essay on the relationship between solitude and our sense of awe, mortality and social cohesion. On loneliness he shares Hannah Arendt’s thoughts:
“totalitarianism ‘bases itself on loneliness, on the experience of not belonging to the world at all, which is among the most radical and desperate experiences of man.’ The ideal totalitarian subject is cut off, vulnerable, desperate to belong, to be made fully whole.”
And on solitide he concludes:
“Willfully embraced solitude, healthy solitude, is a matter of letting oneself and the world be, of not scrambling to hide from the hard things, or thrashing to change what can’t be changed. In fact, solitude does its best work for us when we allow it to put us in contact with the most difficult, painful realities.”
Relationships
It’s a wrap! The complete podcast mini-series on conversations has been released. I mentioned the first two episodes in a previous newsletter, so here are the final two for your listening pleasure. In them, Georgie and I explore two very common conversations that are essential to building and cultivating our networks:
The next season will kick off in January, but I’ll recomend a few highlights in the next newsletter for you to enjoy over the holidays.
Community
My friends over at The Relationship Project have been exploring the idea of a field focused on human connection. This is particularly interesting for anyone who works in community-based organisations that harness relationships in service of their communities needs or goals. They shared what they’ve noticed so far and some open questions in this recent blog post. A few of their reflections really rang true for me:
Transactions as a false enemy: we humans are quick to create false dichotomies where one thing is inherently good and the other is bad. This bias also shows up when people talk about strong and weak ties.
Relationships as a means vs. an end: they are often both, but we tend to emphasise one at the expense of the other.
Challenge of measuring relationships: not only are they hard to measure, but quantifying relationships in this way often makes people uncomfortable.
Like what you read? If so, please share this with someone you think would benefit:
About The Reliants Project
Reliant is my word for a person that someone depends on, an essential component of our social networks. With each edition, I’ll share useful nuggets about how networks shape your wellbeing, relationships and community to help you actively cultivate yours. Whether you want to cultivate your relationships, make better introductions, or activate networks to make an impact in the world, let me help you reach your goals.
You can find more about The Reliants Project here.