Kindness Matters: Connection is prevention

By What Matters to Hatters on July 9, 2025.

Experiencing feelings of loneliness or social isolation? You are not alone.

Recent research shows that approximately half of Canadians are experiencing a significant level of loneliness and social isolation.

Globally, loneliness, isolation and lack of connection has become a public health crisis. A 2023 Surgeon General’s Report notes that insufficient connection can cause negative health consequences including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and development of dementia in older adults. A lack of social connection increases the risk of premature death by more than 60 per cent.

In addition, the report noted that loneliness and isolation also contribute substantially to mental health challenges, increasing the risk of depression and anxiety in children and adults.

However, the good news is that by taking care of ourselves and intentionally connecting with others, we can improve our mood and decrease feelings of loneliness or isolation resulting in better overall health and wellbeing!

International Self-Care Day is celebrated annually on July 24 – purposely chosen because self-care can be practiced “24 hours a day/7 days a week”. Engaging in self-care is critical, especially during difficult times. Dr. Florko offers four practices that can help create conditions for resilience, joy, and meaning and suggests that we can cultivate these practices within small, everyday moments to produce mindful shifts in our life. The practices include the four C’s – connection, compassion, courage, and creativity.

Connection. Human beings are wired for connection. Being connected to yourself and others is associated with better mental health, lower rates of depression, and longer life expectancy. Simple practices to build increased connection can include texting a friend, journaling about your day, or spending time in nature without distractions. For longer-term connection, the more you can focus on being present, the more you can grow connection.

Compassion. Compassion is the ability to hold pain – our own or others’ – with both tenderness and courage. Gratitude can play a powerful role in helping us be more compassionate by shifting our focus toward our positive reality – it’s a way of grounding in the moment without being overwhelmed. Daily rituals like writing down three things you’re grateful for, journaling about a happy daily memory, or speaking to yourself as you would a friend, can make a big difference.

Courage. Courage is often misunderstood as fearlessness. But real courage includes fear. It’s the voice that says, “This is scary – and I’ll do it anyway.” Start small: Speak up in a meeting. Set a boundary. Apply for the thing you’re not sure you’ll get. Courage grows with use.

Creativity. Creativity can be more than painting or writing poetry. Creativity can be about seeing problems in new ways, adapting when plans go sideways, and imagining alternatives. Try something playful this week. Doodle. Dance in your kitchen. Try a new recipe or rearrange your living room. Do it not to be good but to feel inspired, joyful, or just silly.

The four C’s are not magic cures. But, they are powerful practices that can anchor us through chaos, ground us in meaning, and help us navigate the messiness of life with more grace and grit.

Connection to self and others builds resilience and fosters a sense of belonging. In a world that often pulls us in many directions, these practices remind us of what matters most, help us stay human, and help us keep well.

Join the practice to increase instances of simple, moments of connection every day, helping us all feel happier and less lonely!

The Kindness Matters column is put together by members of the What Matters to Hatters Coalition

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