The Power of Connection

As hard as it is to believe, we are more than halfway through the last quarter of 2020. It is starting to get cold here in the Northern hemisphere. As Fitzgerald said, “life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” With new beginnings comes new opportunity to do things differently.

According to the CDC, 40 percent of U.S. adults reported struggling with mental health or substance abuse in a survey conducted in late June. One of my siblings suffer from a severe mental illness (paranoid schizophrenia) that has incapacitated him for almost two decades. I empathize with people feeling sad, anxious, depressed or restless in general and more so through the necessary isolation during this pandemic. We at Cummins recently launched an active campaign called “It’s OK” to destigmatize and normalize caring for mental health and wellbeing for our people and their families. I hope you feel like I do that It’s OK to be anxious, happy, sad, relaxed, frustrated, optimistic, stressed, or hopeful sometimes all within the same day.

Like many of you, I’ve felt more isolated than ever but with the new season approaching, I am embracing the opportunity to act differently. I also know that my wanted inclusion and affection is very high. I’ve found that staying connected with those I care about is vital to my wellbeing. From my experience, I encourage you to engage with your networks purposefully, intentionally and sincerely and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. When it comes to connection, a little goes a long way.

My parents are in their mid-eighties and live in India so not being able to travel and see them has been difficult for all of us. In an effort to stay connected, I set my alarm for 9:20 p.m. my time each day, as a reminder to call them during their early morning. We may talk for only a few minutes about updates and checking in on extended family members, but this simple reminder allows a daily touchpoint that makes me feel connected and they anticipate these daily calls.

My daughter is back at college for her sophomore year, so every Saturday I pen a handwritten letter to her about happenings that week. In this time of social media and 140-character counts, I write three or four pages chronicling the week, my observations and my feelings about happenings. I always close the letter asking her to sleep well, exercise, pray and meditate every day. All this adds up to 8 hours leaving her with 16 hours in the day to do the things she likes to do. I don’t know if she reads all the letters promptly, but I feel satisfied that I have connected with her regularly.

At work, I’m making a more conscious effort to check in on others through texts, phone calls and one-on-one meetings. I don’t do enough of this as I often get caught with work outcomes than connecting with people intentionally. This is something I have to be ever vigilant of, and my team works hard to help and hold me accountable.

This year has afforded me a unique chance to dedicate more time to continuous self-improvement, and my journey is far from over. I gain fulfillment from caring for others and carving out time to enhance my connections. I invite you to take a few moments to reflect on ways you can check in on your own network – your family, friends, loved ones, coworkers, bosses and teams.

What are some of your preferred ways to connect with your social circle?

Srikanth