In this week’s Well-Being Tip, we explore what we learned from our conversation with Dr. Vivek Murthy, Dr. Richard Davidson and Krista Tippett at The World We Make 2021.

On October 28, 2021, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Healthy Minds Innovations Founder, Dr. Richard J. Davidson joined Public Radio Host, Krista Tippett, for The World We Make, a conversation on the topics of Loneliness, Connection, and Healing Division. 

Dr. Murthy and Dr. Davidson dove into the themes of societal divide and what we can do as individuals to bring positive change to the world. The talk (which is recorded and freely available to the public), provided actionable tips and tools to support this work. The goal is to inspire the public to feel empowered so #theworldwemake can be a kinder, wiser, more compassionate place.

Whether you are looking for suggestions to “Share Well-Being,” “Practice Well-Being,” or “Connect Well-Being” – there is something for everyone in this guide.

Here is just a sampling:

1. Send Social Appreciation. Notice something positive about a friend or family member, tag your friend, share your appreciation (for example, “Dad – I love how you make people laugh!) and use the hashtag #TheWorldWeMake.
2. Practice Noticing “One Good Thing.” The more you practice the skill of appreciation by noticing the positive in yourself and other people, the easier it gets. Over the next day or two, do your best to notice one good thing in every situation. Bring moments of appreciation into your day by paying attention to the positive qualities of the people you interact with, the world around you, and your own strengths. (Try this Appreciation for Those We Find Challenging seated meditation to continue building this skill.)
3. Bring Kindness to Interactions. Every time you interact with someone, it’s an opportunity to increase connection. If you’re going to the store, how can you be kind to employees or other customers? If you have to call customer service, how can you manage your reactivity to bring something positive to that interaction? It could be that one interaction that changes the trajectory of their day.

The October 28th discussion brought the need to heal societal division and address how we can individually bridge the “connection gap” for better well-being and a better world to the forefront. We hope you can find something in these tips, as well as the talk, to feel emboldened to bring positivity to a sometimes harsh and overwhelming world. After all, #theworldwemake can be one of connection, healing and kindness if as individuals we take action.

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