We've covered a lot about the importance of connecting with your friends and family, and how to develop a strategy for doing so.
One of the themes you may have noticed is the many forms of resistance that come up along the way. In reality, what holds us back from staying in touch are fears and unpleasant emotions that we would rather avoid.
Here are some examples:
- What if I feel awkward?
- What if I don't know what to say?
- What if they don't want me to reach out?
- It's been too long.
- I'm already so busy, I can't find the time.
- Having an app tell me to reach out feels too planned.
- Connections should be spontaneous.
Resistance is really just a story we tell ourselves to justify avoiding action. As Steven Pressfield puts it, "The more important a call to action is to our soul's evolution, the more Resistance we will feel about answering it. But to yield to Resistance deforms our spirit. It stunts us and makes us less than we are and were born to be."1
We are made for connection. These doubts and fears keep us locked away from the people who matter most. Overcoming resistance begins by taking a simple next action. This could be adding that one friend you've been meaning to get in touch with, it could be sending one message.
Action is the antidote. Call your friends.