Social Skills and Communication

Communicate. Be social. We’ve been told since we were old enough to make friends that these were important skills to build. But why? What do these things add to your life and what can they do for your mental health? In this month’s article, I hope to answer these questions for you, and give you an idea of how these skills can help connect you with others.

Communication

This word, communication, can mean so many different things, but within all its definitions is the common goal of sharing. Sharing or exchanging information, conveying ideas and feelings. And isn’t that what connections are all about? 

To be good communicators we need to be able to actively listen, have empathy and respect for others, and show we are listening by asking meaningful questions. Then, we are able to do the same with that person. It’s a win-win situation. Being able to do these things will not only improve your awareness of others, but also your self-awareness. When you are able to notice others' emotional states, you are better suited to acknowledge your own feelings.

When we express our emotions and feelings to others, we open ourselves up to a world of valuable connections. 

Social Skills

Social skills are important to retaining our connections with others. Poor social skills often lead to stress and loneliness, especially in youth. It’s not just about being a social butterfly though. During COVID-19 many people felt isolated, but people with better social skills were still able to connect with other things. I remember connecting to myself through exercise, exploring nature, and creating art. Being able to take circumstances like forced isolation in stride is a trait of someone with strong social skills. Not just being social in the sense of being talkative, but it’s all about listening. Listen to the people around you and most of all listen to yourself and what you need. 

Finding your people

If you are a person experiencing any type of mental illness or mental health issue, or anyone really, you need good people around you who care about you. You need to be able to communicate your needs to these people so that they can find the best ways to help you. If you need space, ask for it. If you need support through a hard time, you can ask for that too! Don’t be afraid to take the steps you need to take towards better mental health. 

Let’s start 2025 strong and set the goal of making new connections!