Obtaining your goals, pursuing ambitions, and taking strides toward personal growth are all forms of progress that are influenced by your mental health. Not only is it important to prioritize your mental health, but it is important to recognize that your social health has an influence as well. Indeed, at times it can feel as though it is just you against the world, and in some instances, it might very well be. With social supports to assist you, however, you experience greater levels of success. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX community explores the value in building social capital through networking, and discusses the importance of establishing a healthy support network.
The Value in Social Capital
It goes without saying that no two people will share the exact same life experience. This is largely due to the fact that each of the 7 billion+ people in the world are unique, in and of themselves, and nobody is more aware of themselves than, well, themselves. Though this may be the case, it is also true that many people may share similar characteristics, backgrounds, and life hurdles.
While people may face obstacles that are specific to their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and more, there are also other factors that are very specific to you as your own person. That being said, how in the world can we get through it all without people to relate to, talk to, listen to, and someday help? To put it simply, we can’t.
The truth is, not every moment in life has to be traversed alone, and having a support system in place can assist you in a variety of ways. Though a member of your support network may not be able to relate on every front, what they can do is listen with an empathetic ear. Further, identifying these unique connections is an amazing process known as building social capital, and social capital thrives off of genuine, relatable, and secure connections. To learn more about the important function of social connection and support, reach out to our Dallas, TX community today.
How to Build it
According to the Institute for Social Capital, the term is defined as the value of social networks, bonding individuals that share similarities, bridging individuals of diverse backgrounds, and establishing a secure connection with the norms and intent of reciprocity. Unlike networking, social capital is a full-circle phenomenon that places a focus on the connections between people rather than through transactional interactions.
Creating a social network can take a variety of forms, and there is no single correct way to do it. In fact, there is not a procedure or template to work off of, and the only true requirement includes interaction with others. With that in mind, you can begin creating these connections at community events and gatherings, specialized organizations, schools, hospitals, college campuses, work, and even in your neighborhood.
So, now we begin the building process. We may not share similarities in a number of areas, but what we can share, however, are our experiences. For more information about the different ways you can build social capital, reach out to our team.
Expanding Your Social Network
Believe it or not, there are a host of opportunities in your community and surrounding areas that lead to potential connections. Some of these may include stumbling upon an event that an organization is hosting at the library that piques your interest, or even speaking events for community awareness.
One such opportunity to learn more about social capital and building your social network includes the Hope Cottage Parenting Education Celebration taking place June 11th and 12th. The Parenting Education Celebration is an event hosted by Hope Cottage, which provide various family and parenting services in the Dallas and surrounding areas. What’s more? Our very own FearLess Dallas’ Founder and President, Jill Nastasia, will be presenting and discussing the value of building social capital. If you are interested in learning more, check out the event page here. We hope to see you there!
Reach Out to Our Community
Sometimes it can feel as though we are the only ones fending for ourselves, but it does not have to be that way. Contact FearLess Dallas in Dallas, TX by calling 214-300-5143 to learn more about the benefits and values of social capital and support, and give our team a call when you are ready to become FearLess.