The Seven Pillars of Wholistic Wellbeing Part 5: Social Wellbeing

Social Wellbeing is about valuing the relationships with the people closest to you - relationships that make you thrive and bring you joy. You can have those relationships with members of your real family, but also with a chosen family: friends, colleagues, and confidantes.?

Strong social ties bring stability and comfort in times of need and help us thrive in times of plenty. Unfortunately, average social wellbeing has tanked in the past couple of years due to repeated lockdowns which, for the most part, have crippled relationships and friendships alike, making it harder - and in some cases virtually impossible - to see others in the flesh. While technology offers a lifeline to these relationships, it does not come close to replicating the authenticity of face-to-face contact.?

Social Wellbeing is more important than ever in a modern world where the social fabric has become fragmented. Unfortunately, not everyone has equal access to Social Wellbeing. I was lucky enough that, even in lockdown, Social Wellbeing was something I experienced daily, as I spent time with my loved ones and felt a sense of safety and security within my family. Meanwhile, almost half the population living amongst the world's most deprived communities have a severe lack of support, compounding the difficulties they face. Economic deprivation runs alongside social disenfranchisement, and this is something I want to change.?

Despite the vast differences that exist between me and marginalised people in developing countries, illness is the one thing I can empathise with. Mine may have been brought upon by burnout, but the symptoms were persistent: it was my body’s way of crying for help. I was lucky enough that I had solid Social Wellbeing foundations to help put me back on track. This is something I want those less fortunate to have access to as well.?

At RoundGlass, we have developed all kinds of initiatives, webinars and online courses. It is my way of imparting my passion for Wholistic Wellbeing with the rest of you.?

“But is Wholistic Wellbeing something I can learn?” you might ask. Yes, it is.?

When I was growing up in India, I had a tutor in a handful of subjects who would teach me three times a week, one hour for each session. I remember him telling me he had one job: to make me love those subjects. Those words stuck with me as we met each week, no matter how briefly, and they have remained with me ever since. My tutor was right: teachers are there to make you love what you learn, and once you’re inspired, the work becomes easy.?

RoundGlass courses like those offered in the Meditation Collective, or initiatives like the End of Life Collective, are there to make you fall in love with Wholistic Wellbeing; with taking care of yourself; with putting yourself first; with living a life of harmony and abundance. The teachers at RoundGlass are there because I chose them: they are friends who have taught me to better myself, like mindful education consultant Curtis Smith, mindfulness coach Pamla Michel, and meditation teacher Santy Wang. Their collaboration with me on RoundGlass is a tribute to the strong relationship we have fostered over the years.?

Besides falling in love, these courses are also there to make you think about subjects we often avoid in polite conversation. One of these is death. The End of Life Collective (EOL) is designed to destigmatize the taboo that is death, so that we may prepare for it - and for grief - more pragmatically and usefully. EOL is not one about exploiting death for profit; it is there to facilitate the process of dying and of grief for individuals and their families. Our community of caregivers and care seekers to help you and your loved ones with one of life’s most important times.

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Developing Social Wellbeing should be an ongoing process that demands engagement and time. Spending time with your biological (or chosen) family, either by bringing relatives (or friends) together or attending an event which they throw, is a simple way of maintaining relationships which form the backbone of Social Wellbeing. You will feel more supported and you will also support others more.