What is “Connection”?
Date: 13/06/2020 By: Francesca Raffa
One of Spiral Tea’s core values is connection; I believe that connection is the answer to enlightenment and that without it we are out of alignment. I want to share with you the meaning and the importance that “connection” has to living a healthier and happier life.
The literal definition of connection by the Cambridge Dictionary is “the state of being related to someone or something else.” However, the word connection can have a very different interpretation to each person. Upon attending a 2-day workshop called Discover The Work You Were Born To Do by “Living the True Self” which involved a series of activities to discover your top 5 “inner codes.” I discovered that connection was my top “inner code” the foundation to my true self, meaning if connection wasn’t at the heart of anything that I do in life, then I won’t ever feel truly fulfilled. Upon this realisation I began to really think about what the definition of “connection” meant to me. Personally, “connection” for me is another word for love - to be connected is to be one with a collective whole to receive knowledge, clarity and insight from all forms of energy, to have compassion in understanding myself, others and the world around me. Knowing that I am connected to something much greater than myself gives me comfort, and I thrive to constantly work on building a stronger connection with that in order to live my life authentically in everything that I do.
Let us look back to the beginning of time, the start of evolution and creation - everything derived from a single particle of matter that expanded into the universe as we know it. All forms of matter are made up of energy that is much greater than us, with its origin a mystery. However, the same matter that created the earth, the seas, the mountains and the trees is the same matter that created all life form: microorganisms, animals and humans. When looking at things from this perspective it is clear that we are all interconnected to everything in existence on earth, in nature and the cosmos (the starter of creation) derived from the same one source. We as humans have one variable that differs from other forms of life and that is our minds. It is undoubtedly true that other animals “feel” their connections with the rest of nature, but we as humans have a unique ability to abstract, symbolise and objectify this feeling (“think”) and often in this process we actually lose the comfort of the more basic intuitive feelings that are naturally available to us resulting in an overall disconnection.
Why is connection with ourselves, with others and the world at large so important?
I believe that being and feeling connected is vital in maintaining our overall emotional and physical state. Understanding the intertwined connection between our mind, body and soul and strengthening that connection to consciously be a part of the “all that is.” By forming a deep connection with ourselves and higher selves we become more self-aware of subconscious beliefs that need to be released in order to heal to be able to grow. We have all been born with a purpose, a given intention to live. Reforming a connection to our higher self can help us be guided and led to fulfilling that purpose, resulting in a more meaningful happier life.
Our need to belong is secondary to our survival needs. A real connection with others is a sense of being openly authentic and available to another person just as they are open and available to you. In this connection, you feel empathy and compassion towards another which positively impacts our emotional wellbeing. An authentic social connection can lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy, and actually improve our immune systems. By neglecting our need to connect, we put our health at risk.
Connecting to nature and mother earth gives us gratitude for life and a profound sense of serenity, calm and at peace. There is also a correlation between having a connection with nature that creates stronger bonds with others, being in more of a relaxed state translates to being more compassionate which can improve the quality of our social bonds. Connecting to the world at large gives us insight and perspective into the creator of life, all originating from one source knowing that anything is possible! Sparking our motivation.
Even explaining the importance of connection, you can see that each connection has a relation to one another with each one helping to strengthen the other. We are all connected this is a fact, but it’s becoming consciously aware of these connections that can begin to shift our mindsets to live life from the heart with love and compassion.
Start by connecting with self, making it a daily practice focusing on your thoughts and feelings and letting go of all judgment – just completely surrendering to just being. Head over to my other post: Have Tea the Mindful Way: Awaken Your Senses for an easy 10-step ritual to follow and begin to connect with yourself.
"Connection for me is another word for love - to be connected is to be one with a collective whole to receive knowledge, clarity and insight from all forms of energy, to have compassion in understanding myself, others and the world around me."
"Let us look back to the beginning of time, the start of evolution and creation - everything derived from a single particle of matter that expanded into the universe as we know it."
"Reforming a connection to our higher self can help us be guided and led to fulfilling that purpose, resulting in a more meaningful happier life."
"Connecting to nature and mother earth gives us gratitude for life and a profound sense of serenity, calm and at peace."
"An authentic social connection can lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy, and actually improve our immune systems."