Community as Medicine
Why sharing heals
In a world that often feels rushed, heavy, or quietly overwhelming, it’s easy to assume we need to deal with everything on our own. Many of us carry our stress privately. We move through our days with a mix of worry and determination, hoping for pockets of relief or moments where things finally feel lighter.
But there’s a kind of medicine that often goes overlooked, one that doesn’t require perfection, or self-improvement. It’s the kind of medicine that comes from each other.
Sharing joy (even something small) is a simple and powerful way to support mental health for both the sharer and the recipient. Psychology and contemplative traditions both point toward the same truth:
Community is healing and connection is one of the most reliable antidotes we have.
The Psychology Behind Shared Joy
When you tell someone about something good (a moment of pride, a small win, something that made you genuinely smile) you’re not just sharing information. You’re strengthening the emotion itself. When you share a positive moment, it becomes more vivid, more memorable, and easier to access later. Instead of passing through quickly, joy settles in.
Sharing joy also calms the nervous system. According to Polyvagal Theory, positive social contact signals safety, helping the body shift out of tension and into ease. Even a brief warm exchange can:
lower stress hormones
relax the breath
widen your emotional capacity
interrupt cycles of worry
Joy becomes a form of co-regulation, something you stabilize through another human being.
When someone shares their joy with us, we feel trusted, included, and valued. These moments are protective for our mental health because they:
boost oxytocin (our bonding hormone)
lift mood
increase feelings of belonging
strengthen relational connection
Shared joy creates a small pocket of emotional safety, for both people.
Off The Page: Actioning The Insights
Deepening connections
An encouragement for the week ahead
Modern life can leave us feeling quietly lonely, even when we’re surrounded by people. We’re more connected than ever yet often more isolated, carrying so much on our own. But we aren’t built for that; the nervous system heals through connection, not isolation. Sharing joy, whether through a quick text, a laugh, or a small celebration, offers real nourishment and supports emotional repair. Community won’t solve everything, but it makes almost everything easier to hold.
As you make your way into this week, I encourage the following small movements to exist in greater connection with others:
Ask someone you love a grounding question
Go deeper than, “How are you?” and consider asking someone to share something that they are grateful for that showed up for them lately, something that made them smile or laugh. Follow this up with your own personal share.
Text someone you care for to share what they mean to you
Take the opportunity to share the positive impact that this person has had on your life and share gratitude for their presence.
Share a compliment that addresses how others make you feel
This week practice with sharing compliments with others that address how they made you feel. Not what they have done for you or a compliment regarding appearance. Take note of the difference in reactions that you are met with.
Thank You
Thank you for joining me this week! I’m excited to keep sharing insights from my work, research, and personal journey with you.
Did something resonate with you? Curious about applying these strategies in your life? Or know someone who might benefit?
Use the link below to schedule a consultation or forward this newsletter to a friend!
● I am asking for your support!
Adria Moses @ The School of Radical Healing
I’d like to pause this week to highlight someone very special to me — my friend Adria. She’s preparing for surgery as part of her ongoing healing from Crohn’s Disease and is seeking communal support along the way.
If you feel called, I invite you to learn more and consider supporting her journey below!
ADRIA — MOSES
“I’ve lived with Crohn’s Disease for most of my life. It’s invisible, unpredictable, and exhausting, and this January I’ll be having another major surgery. This time, I’m choosing to do it differently. I’m asking for help. I created a GoFundMe to support my healing — the time I’ll need to rest, the cost of care, and the essentials that make recovery possible.
I know I can’t do this alone. Every donation, every share, every word of encouragement makes a real difference.”
Extras
Let your voice be heard
Click the button below to share anonymous feedback on Mindful Monday. This will support me in continually bringing aligned insights that you all can action in your day to day life to witness a shift.
● New Reads in the Library!
Click the link below to explore my latest read, “Four Thousand Weeks — Time Management for Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman.
As you know by now, if you have been subscribed to this newsletter for a while, I love reading with friends! This read was an encouragement from my dear friend, fundraiser, consultant, and speaker Chrissey Nguyen Klockner!
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