Enhancing Wellbeing Through Meaningful Connections to Self, Others, and Purpose.

Mental health support is often seen as a response to a significant event or crisis. Much like physical health, mental health requires regular care to be able to navigate daily stress or difficult experiences. At MedStar Health, we’re working to reframe the conversation on mental health. Our aim is to support associates in building a strong foundation as well as support them when the weight becomes too heavy. We are creating a culture where people can flourish at home, at work, and in life through meaningful connections. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and a timely reminder to prioritize your overall wellbeing. Often, this is easier said than done—especially if you work in a field, like health care, dedicated to caring for others. Earlier this month, MedStar Health was honored to host the third annual National Nurse Wellbeing Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference focused on cultivating wellbeing programs within healthcare environments and offered strategies applicable to the broader healthcare audience. The following takeaways can serve as a foundation to building and sustaining wellbeing. 
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Sustaining wellbeing hinges upon making meaningful connections.

Connections to self, others, and purpose are the driving force behind wellbeing. These three points of connection are intertwined, each contributing to the wellbeing and growth of the individual and a team. Through the MedStar Health Center for Wellbeing, our goal is to help people with tools and strategies to navigate the relationship of these three connection points.
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Connecting to self: Be aware of what you’re experiencing.

Cultivating an awareness of what we’re experiencing is an important first step to caring for individual wellbeing. When we are aware of the physical, emotional, and mental health experiences that we are having, we are better able to care for ourselves or seek the support that we need. In this growth, our capacity to support others grows too. It can be easy to lose sight of your own physical and emotional health in the process of caring for others, especially in the healthcare landscape. However, if we practice getting in tune with ourselves and build a strong foundation for individual wellbeing, we are better able to strengthen relationships and connect to our purpose. These meaningful connections are directly related to fulfillment in our life and work.

To connect with yourself, you need to get comfortable taking stock of your current state. Are you taking care of yourself physically? Are you doing things to support and care for your emotional needs? It’s common for people to ignore feelings of frustration or grief until they fester and become unmanageable. Being aware of your own feelings is fundamental to building and maintaining a healthy baseline. 

There are many ways you can check in on yourself. One practical tool is the Stress First Aid model. It’s a visual continuum that can help you identify early signs of stress so you can prevent that stress from worsening or shorten the amount of time spent experiencing excessive stress. For others, a simple feelings chart prompts them to consider specifically what they’re feeling and identify any needs that aren’t being met. For example, if you can recognize that you’re exhausted, you can take steps to prioritize more rest. Being able to name what you’re feeling prevents you from trying to solve the wrong problem—and wasting energy that could be more effectively channeled towards the underlying cause of your stress. 
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Connecting to others: Be vulnerable.

Research shows that social connections have a positive effect on mental health. Relationships at home and in the workplace can help us navigate stress, foster a sense of belonging, and improve our overall quality of life. So, how can we open ourselves up to others and be a safe place for others to open up to us? Genuine connections start with checking in on each other intentionally. Ask those in your proximity how they’re doing and be ready to listen. Follow up with questions that show your authentic concern for them. We often rush through the “how are you’s?” and miss opportunities to build deeper connections.

Another way is to be honest about our own needs. Sometimes, we hesitate to ask things of others because we want to look strong and capable of handling things on our own. In other cases, perhaps we don’t want to burden others. However, when we can acknowledge our own needs and ask for support, we’re often surprised to find that others can help—and genuinely want to. Asking someone for help or being vulnerable about what you need shows others you trust them, which also deepens the relationship.

Practicing daily gratitude is another way to nurture meaningful relationships. We often tell people we’re thankful for them or we love them, especially when coming or going. However, we don’t always elaborate on what it is we love about them or why exactly we’re grateful. One practical tip for deepening relationships is to make it a practice to text or call one person daily and tell them specifically why you’re grateful for them or love them. Bonus, often you will get reciprocated gratitude, which fills you up too. (See how these things are connecting?)
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Connecting to purpose: Be intentional.

Whether we realize it or not, we’re often seeking purpose through work or relationships. And, the more we do things we enjoy that align with our values, the healthier our mental state will be. When we do work that feels meaningful, we are more likely to feel fulfilled in other areas of our lives. In contrast, when we feel like our work doesn’t feel useful or impactful, we’re more likely to experience stress.

Staying connected to your purpose can be challenging, especially when we are juggling multiple demands on our time and attention. Once you are clear on your goals and values, you can consider what kinds of things you give your time to. 

Perhaps you need to proactively block time on your schedule for things you enjoy. In other instances, perhaps you need to say “no” or “not right now” to requests for activities or tasks that don’t align with your purpose. Those situations are a great example of when it can be helpful to be honest about your needs so others can step in to help or support you. 
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Weaving storytelling into connections.

Words are powerful and foundational to our connections with ourselves, others, and our purpose. The way we talk to ourselves about our experiences also profoundly impacts our mental health. For example, instead of saying, “I have to go to work,” try saying, “I get to go to work.” Or, create a narrative that supports your values. For example, “I get to support my family through this job.” The narratives we tell ourselves can change the way we feel about our circumstances. Try to avoid negative self-talk like, “I’m so dumb for making that mistake.” Instead, “I made a mistake—everyone does. Here’s what I can learn from this.” 

Every day, we engage with the stories of other people as well. It's important to pay attention and listen to the answers to “How are you?” Don’t just settle for quick, positive responses. Remember to ask about their day, their family, or their interests. Be specific so that when people respond, you are truly hearing their story. 

At MedStar Health, we believe stories of people and their experiences can shift mindsets and spark curiosity around how wellbeing can manifest differently. It’s essential to create systems and structures that foster a culture in which people can flourish, rather than just focusing on the absence of suffering. By finding opportunities to forge connections in our everyday lives, we can all live in a way that feels personally fulfilling.