40 - The Pursuit of Keystones
Let’s look at the Fifth Keystone - Seek and follow your calling in life. Seems like a fairly self-explanatory notion, but a lot of complexity is buried in those seven words. One important corollary that we should always keep in mind is that there is an inextricable link between our calling, and our happiness in life. How to ensure our lives are happy and positive is linked to all Keystones, and something we need to safeguard.
Looking at countless sources, our faith, the science, math, it all seems to close in on one thing: Friendship and human connections are essential to our happiness and well-being. They provide us with a sense of belonging and support, and help us to navigate the ups and downs in our lives and our faith. We are wired to crave connection and interaction with others, and without it, we can feel lonely and isolated. But what is it about friendship and human connections that bring us such joy and fulfillment?
One of the most important aspects of friendship is the sense of belonging it provides. Having friends means having people in our lives who accept us for who we are and who we can be ourselves around. It means having people to share our experiences with and to rely on for support. The Temple is a great place to find other likeminded people and enables us to share our lives with other Acolytes. The trust and intimacy that can develop is a great benefit. When we trust someone, we feel comfortable sharing our thoughts, feelings, and experiences with them, and in turn, they do the same with us. This mutual exchange of vulnerability helps to deepen our connection with others and allows us to feel truly seen and understood.
Another key aspect of connecting with others is the sense of support and encouragement that others provide. Whether it is a kind word of encouragement when we are feeling down, or a helping hand when we need it most, friends are there for us through the good times and the bad. They help us to see the best in ourselves and to believe in our abilities, even when we doubt ourselves.
In addition to providing emotional support, others can also play an important role in our social and physical well-being. Studies have shown that people with strong social connections have better physical and mental health, and are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. Having friends also encourages us to be more active and engaged in our Faith, our communities, which can lead to a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment – and bring us ever closer to the Paraclete and the best version of ourselves.
Keying on that - the benefits of friendship and human connections extend beyond our personal lives, to the larger community and society as a whole. When we connect with others and form strong and supportive relationships, we create a sense of cohesion and belonging that helps to build strong and resilient communities – we become a part of the rising tide that lifts everyone up.
A gentle reminder that not all connections are healthy or beneficial. It is important to surround ourselves with people who treat us with respect, kindness and understanding, and those who are willing to support our goals and dreams. On the other hand, it's important to distance ourselves from those who drain our energy, bring negativity, or otherwise engender bad feelings.
In today's fast-paced and increasingly digital world, it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life and neglect our relationships with others. However, it is important to make time for our friends and loved ones, and to actively nurture our connections with others. This can be as simple as setting aside time each week to catch up with a friend, or joining a local community group or club to meet new people. It goes without saying, but we’ll mention it again – other Acolytes and members of the Temple are great people to reach out to and forge bonds with.
These friendships and human connections are essential to our happiness and well-being. They provide us with a sense of belonging and support, and help us to navigate the ups and downs of life. It's important to surround ourselves with positive and supportive people, actively nurture our connections and make time for our loved ones – and this collectively allows us the space to adhere to the Fifth Keystone. By valuing and investing in our relationships, we can build a more fulfilling and satisfying life for ourselves and contribute to a stronger, more connected community. For its part, the Temple is also working on building tools that will enable each and every one of us to improve our personal relationships and strengthen existing friendships. We are all in this together.
