What are the most important things in your life? While people's individual priorities may vary, most would say their families, careers, friends, health, pets, and financial security.
These core areas provide the framework for emotional wellbeing, fulfilment, personal growth, success, and a balanced life. They also contribute to creating important life experiences.
The relationships we form with family, friends, and the wider groups and communities we belong to, feed into these experiences.
Forming connections with colleagues, neighbours, people who share similar interests, life journeys, or faiths as us, all contribute to our wellbeing. These connections not only protect us from loneliness and isolation, they enrich our physical and mental health, whatever our ages or circumstances.
If you would like to form new connections, then this is the perfect month to take the first steps to broadening your social circle. July is Social Wellbeing Month, a timely reminder that connection with others is not just “nice to have” but is essential for our mental, emotional, and even physical health, according to Lynda Duffy, a local mind coach and therapist.
"We talk a lot about physical health, diet, and exercise but social wellbeing is just as important. Feeling connected, seen, and supported has a huge impact on our mood, confidence, and overall sense of wellbeing."
A Rapid Transformational therapist, she said she is aware through her work of the powerful role connection plays in people's lives.
"Whether someone comes to me with anxiety, low confidence, stress, or feeling stuck, there's often a common thread, they've become disconnected. Sometimes it's a disconnection from other people and sometimes it's a disconnection from themselves.
"As humans, we're wired for connection. We all want to feel seen, heard, loved, valued, and like we belong. In fact, research consistently shows that strong social connections can improve our mental health, reduce stress, increase resilience, and even support our physical health. It's not about having loads of friends or a busy social calendar, it's about having deeper, healthier, meaningful relationships and connections with the people in our lives."
Learning to communicate openly with a partner, checking in on a friend, asking for help when you need it, or simply making time for the people who matter most in your life can have a profound effect on our wellbeing, she said.
"The good news is that building connections does not have to be complicated. Small changes can have a bigger impact than we often realise."
Lynda Duffy (www.lyndaduffy.ie ) offers the following advice to help you connect with yourself, your family, your friends, and your community.
1. Start small
When people hear the words 'social wellbeing', they often think they need to make lots of new friends or fill their diaries with plans. That is not the case, she said.
"Connection starts with the little moments, a smile at the shop, saying 'hello' to someone while walking the Salthill Prom, chatting to another parent at the school gate, or asking a neighbour how their day is going. These small interactions might seem insignificant, but they can lift your mood, boost your confidence, and remind you that you're part of a community. Small moments of connection often lead to bigger ones."
2. Talk, do not assume
We often assume the people closest to us know how we are feeling but that is not always true. Whether it is your partner, a friend, or a family member, make time for honest conversations. You do not need to share everything, but simply opening up, whether that is saying you are struggling, sharing something positive, celebrating a win, or just checking in, can really strengthen your relationships.
"There is also something powerful about being a little more real," she said. "When you're honest about how you're actually doing, it often gives other people permission to do the same. Vulnerability has a way of creating connection, it helps others feel more comfortable opening up, too."
Letting go of the pressure to pretend everything is always fine can be "incredibly freeing", she said. "Life has ups and downs for everyone, and real connection comes when we allow ourselves to be seen in both. Good communication is one of the foundations of social wellbeing, and often the simplest conversations are the ones that bring people closer together."
3. Get out and say 'yes'
Sometimes the hardest part is simply getting out your front door. It is easy to turn down invitations because you feel tired, do not know know anyone else attending an event, or simply do not feel like socialising.
"When we're feeling lonely, stressed, or low, it's easy to stay at home, but a change of scenery can make a real difference," suggested the mind coach. "Go for a walk through the Galway Market, visit one of Galway's beautiful beaches, take a hike in Connemara, or simply grab a coffee and watch the world go by. If an opportunity comes along such as a walk, a coffee, a local event, or an invitation from a friend, consider saying 'yes'. You might be surprised where it leads."
4. Put your phone aside
It is easy to spend minutes, even hours, on your phone, scrolling through news channels or social media which can be fun, entertaining, and informative. However, remember online connection is not the same as 'real' connection.
Ms Duffy advised people to put their phones aside for a few minutes the next time they are waiting for a bus, sitting in a café, or taking a lunch break.
"Look up, notice what's around you, or strike up a conversation. Sometimes, the best connections happen when we're fully present. The same goes when you're spending time with your partner, children, family, or friends. Putting your phone down and giving someone your full attention is one of the simplest ways to strengthen your relationships."
5. Reach out and take the first step
Do you have great intentions of telephoning a family member or friend, meeting them for coffee, or calling to their house but never quite get around to it? Or do you wait for someone else to take the initiative? Many of us are guilty on both these fronts.
Life can be busy and weeks or months may go by without catching up with family or friends. Instead of waiting for the perfect time, make connection part of your routine.
"Arrange a regular walk, a monthly coffee, or a weekly phone call. And when you do spend time together, try to really be there, listen properly, and be present in the conversation rather than thinking about what's next on your list. Strong relationships aren't built through grand gestures; they're built through consistency, showing up, and giving each other your time and attention."
Aim to make the first move this week to celebrate Social Wellbeing Month. "Send the message, invite someone for a coffee, or a walk," she recommended. "And if you're feeling nervous about it, remember that's completely normal. Most people feel a little anxious when they're stepping outside their comfort zone or trying something new. Confidence doesn't come before the first step, it comes because of it."
6. Get involved in your community
Are you interested in sport, reading, singing, walking, or dancing, for example? If so, find out where other like-minded people meet in your area. Or maybe volunteering with a local charity would appeal to you? These are all easy ways of meeting people and feeling part of your community.
"You don't have to be the most outgoing person in the room, and you certainly don't have to know everyone there. Just showing up is enough," she said.
"The more regularly you attend, the more familiar faces you'll begin to recognise. Before long, those familiar faces turn into conversations, and conversations often grow into genuine friendships. Remember, everyone was new once, and most groups are delighted to welcome new members."
7. Focus on quality, not quantity
People often think they need a huge group of friends or a packed social calendar to enjoy good social wellbeing. All you may need are one or two genuine, supportive relationships.
Lynda Duffy said it is quality, not quantity that matters. "It's about the people who make you feel safe, heard, and able to be yourself.
"The right people won't make you feel inferior, judged, or like you have to perform in any way. Instead, they'll make you feel accepted, understood, and supported. These are the relationships where you can be honest, laugh easily, and also talk about the harder things when life isn't going to plan. Invest your time in the people who lift you up, who listen without judgement, and who help you feel more like yourself when you're with them, not less. Try just one of these ideas this week. You don't have to change everything overnight."
