It’s the end of the week. You’re all alone in your house, drinking your favorite wine and watching your favorite show. How do you feel about being alone in your free time?
If you’re an introvert who prefers to have your own solitude, you’ll find this lovely and maybe say, “This is what I always do!”. On the other hand, if you’re an extravert, you’ll definitely see this as something boring and prefer to go out with your friends.
It doesn’t matter if you’re an introvert, extravert, or ambivert. One thing’s for sure, there will be a point in your life when you’ll seek connection. It doesn’t have to be romantic, though. Any kind of connection with other people. And this is where relationships come.
Maybe you’re wondering, why do we even need relationships? This question is currently running through your mind because you know that it’s “okay” for you to be alone, but there’s something that feels like it’s lacking in you.
To help you understand your feelings and to answer your questions about why we need relationships in life, let me show you the five purpose of relationships:
1. Relationships take away loneliness.
Sometimes, being alone is not always peaceful. It is lonely. But knowing that someone is only a phone call away if you need help or that you have someone you can call at any time if you want to hang out with another human being is special. Having a connection with others can take away whatever loneliness you have.
2. Relationships make us feel included.
This is where the fear of missing out is removed from your mind. Having relationships with others, not necessarily romantic ones, can always make you feel included. Simple “Hey! How have you been? ” or “Do you want to grab a coffee before going to work?” is enough to make us feel included and appreciated.
3. It gives us a connection not only with others but also with ourselves.
Sharing your thoughts and feelings is important in a relationship. The more you get to express and talk about your thoughts and feelings, the more you understand yourself and get to connect more with yourself. This is why having a connection with others is not only about “others”, it is also about yourself.
4. It can give us social support, which is important for our mental health.
There will always be a time in our lives that you’ll realize that you can’t do everything alone. This is where your friends, family, and a significant person in your life come in. They will be your own social support. Someone who will always be there to support you both in times of happiness and sadness.
5. Relationships allow us to truly be our true selves.
Being in a relationship can make you feel appreciated, no matter what kind of person you are. This is why it’ll make you feel more encouraged to express yourself and just be true to who you are. The people in your relationship should be people who’ll let you be the goofy, funny person you are without being scared of what they might say about you.
These are just some of the reasons why we need relationships in life. Relationships have a lot of benefits for us. No matter how enticing and peaceful being alone is, at the end of the day we still need a connection from others.
If you find yourself having a hard time building connection, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services, LLC is a diverse therapy clinic that can meet the needs of anyone. If you’d like to talk about your mental health, feel free to message us here.
References:
Benamati, K. (2017, March 19). Why we really need relationships in life. HuffPost. Retrieved August 17, 2022, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-we-really-need-relati_b_9467896
Umberson, D., & Montez, J. K. (2010). Social relationships and health: a flashpoint for health policy. Journal of health and social behavior, 51 Suppl(Suppl), S54–S66. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022146510383501
