Humanity Conversations
for peace & trust to foster one human community on earth
We’re social creatures and we have conversations almost every day, so through “Humanity Conversations”, we hope to spontaneously but intentionally build trust and peace in the human family.
In the light of Covid-19 pandemic and other serios global crises like climate change, inequalities and conflicts, the UN Chief António Guterres had said that “the biggest problem today is the lack of trust.”
Our relationships with one another as a human family can be strengthened through intentional communities of active listening and concrete support, because as the UN Chief and the World Health Organization have reiterated, “No one is safe until everyone is safe.”
How do our social connections affect
our overall health, well-being and longevity?
Content from Youtube can't be displayed due to your current cookie settings. To show this content, please click "Consent & Show" to confirm that necessary data will be transferred to Youtube to enable this service. Further information can be found in our Privacy Policy. Changed your mind? You can revoke your consent at any time via your cookie settings.
“Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too. The people who were the healthiest at age 80 were those who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 .” Dr Robert Waldinger, current director of the ongoing 80-year Harvard Study of Adult Development and professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
The Harvard Study has also revealed that:
1. Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives, protecting people from life’s discontents and helping to delay mental and physical decline.
2. Close relationships are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.
3. Loneliness is as strong a risk factor for illness as smoking or alcoholism.
4. People’s personalities are not “set like plaster” but changes throughout life.
Psychiatrist Dr George Vaillant, who led the Harvard Study from 1972 until 2004 said, “When the study began, nobody cared about empathy or attachment,” said Vaillant. “But the key to healthy aging is relationships, relationships, relationships.”
Many other medical and scientific studies provide increasing evidence for the health benefits of good social connections:
Dr Julianne Holt-Lunstad et al : Social connection increases longevity and social disconnection is worse for health than obesity, alcoholism, and pollution. Holt-Lunstad has also argued for social health to be a public healthcare priority in the U.S.
Dr Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General, on social connections as key to tackling crises of depression, anxiety, addiction, mental and physical well-being
Professor Richard J. Davidson on social and emotional learning changing our brains for greater adaptive health
Dr. Emma Seppala on social connections for thriving
Matthew Lieberman, Ph.D. on our social brain
Dr. John Rowe annd Dr. Robert Kahn on social relationships bringing better overall health
The Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center study on loneliness increasing the likelihood of dementia
Data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing on social isolation and loneliness as risk factors of physical and mental conditions
WHO World Report On Ageing and Health 2015 on psychosocial services as a major component of healthy ageing
Dr John Beard, Director Department of Ageing and Life Course, on health and the building and maintaining of relationships.
Join us in small circles to “Listen, Learn, Love”
Write to: lovebridgesall@protonmail.com
Sign up to collaborate as an individual or group at www.bit.ly/LoveBridgesAllMovement