Written by Alyssa Sirichoktanasup
What is your worst regret?
According to a poll by Forbes Magazine, our world’s most common regret is neglecting family, and the third is not keeping in touch with old friends. And both of these have something in common - a lack of communication.
Every day, millions of people simply do not speak to the significant people in their lives. A study by the Pew Research Center found that in 2018, 1 out of every 10 Americans felt lonely most or all of the time. And this burden comes at no small cost; according to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a lack of social engagement is found to have a direct relationship with psychological distress. A study by Rush University found that social isolation led to increased risks of physical conditions as well, such as heart disease, diabetes, and dementia.
I feel a simple way to address this would be to hold at least a shred of communication in our lives. We all suffer from moments of exhaustion or loneliness, but I’ve found that when I speak to my family or close friends in these moments, I always feel better. Even the smallest gestures of acknowledgment or gratitude can help brighten someone’s day. According to this study by NBC, compliments boost the mood of both the giver and receiver, and trigger a response similar to that of a monetary gift. Telling people the words we truly mean helps us to “unbottle” and better manage our emotions, so long as we do it with a sense of respect and morality.
There is a saying that tells us that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. And this may be true, but it still doesn’t diminish the impact of the words we speak on the people around us. I hope we are all able to make sure the words we truly mean don’t go unsaid.
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