The Hidden Cost of Losing Community: Our Social Crisis

In a busy world layered with distractions, we've forgotten the pillars that really lead to life fulfillment

Most of us can feel it, even if we don't talk about it.

Communities aren't what they used to be.

While technology has made it easier than ever to stay in touch, real human connection seems to be fading.

People are spending less time with neighbors, joining fewer local groups, and having fewer meaningful conversations face-to-face.

This shift away from community isn't just about having fewer friends or social events.

It's affecting our mental health, stress levels, and overall wellbeing in ways many of us don't realize.

Research shows that strong community bonds are as important to our health as exercise and good nutrition, yet we often treat them as optional extras in our busy lives.

If you think about it, it’s actually pretty surreal.

We can instantly message someone across the world, order anything we need through apps, and work entirely from home. Yet somehow, we've never felt more disconnected from the people right next door.

We scroll through highlight reels of other people’s lives on social media while our own need for genuine connection goes unmet. What we're losing isn't just casual, surface level conversations – it's the essential support system that humans have always relied on to thrive.

This isn't about nostalgia for the way things used to be. It's about recognizing that even though our society is advancing technologically, our fundamental need for community hasn't changed.

The rising rates of suicides, loneliness and social isolation aren't just quick news stories and statistics that eventually go away.

They're a warning sign that something vital is slipping away from our daily lives.

I hate to be a pessimist, but things are only going to get worse if we don’t wake up from our state of hibernation and address this issue.

I’ve been incredibly passionate about human connection and have been noticing this red flag in our society for quite some time.

But after seeing doctors begin to talk about it openly, I knew that this was a problem that was not going to fix itself.

I have since made it a mission to raise awareness about this issue, and come up with some solutions on how to get us back on the track to lasting fulfillment that we all seek deeply.

Why Has Technology Caused This To Happen?

I believe our brains have been conditioned to believe that technology makes it easier for us to do MORE and therefore, when we do MORE we essentially ARE more.

Simply put, the more we can get done, in the least amount of time possible, the better at the game of life we are… Or so we’re told..

But is that really true?

If it were, why don’t most of us feel better as a result?

The truth is:

Quantity isn’t always a representation of Quality, and even though we may be able to text 5-10 different friends per day to keep a connection with them, how deep are these relationships exactly?

And while we’ve got the door propped open, let’s be even more honest for a second.

Most of these text message conversations are just surface level or gossip, which means they’re not actually deepening the connection you’re having with that person.

You also have no idea how that person really feels when all you can do is read the words they’re saying and interpret their meaning.

Essentially, your mind is making the final decision on that person’s mood or how they feel, because you can’t hear their voice or see their face in that moment.

The looming question then remains:

Is it better to keep in touch with 10 people via text, or would it be more beneficial to have 1-2 connections that involve:

In person hangouts or video calls.

The sharing of:

• Values and beliefs

• Fears and vulnerabilities

• Life goals and aspirations

• Past experiences that shaped you

Sure these conversations can be had over text, but how deep are you really going to get with that person? And will you even know how they really feel about any given topic? Keep in mind that many people can have an initial reaction when receiving a text message or email and then bury that emotion as they write back to you in a more “societally acceptable manner” that doesn’t involve how they really feel.

So essentially what you’re getting from them isn’t a true, authentic response.

Now imagine that you’re sitting at a picnic table outside on a beautiful day enjoying a coffee or some lunch with a good friend. You start discussing any of the above bullet points. How much different will that connection be afterwards? You will have been able to play off each other’s emotions, respond authentically, and truly make progress in deepening the relationship with that person. This in turn deepens the level of trust that you have with them and also increases their reliability within the relationship.

The Tech Trap

Another reason why I think most people have been tricked into thinking technology is not causing problems with relationship building is because it provides a strong dopamine response, and requires far less involvement than a phone call, video call, or face-to-face conversation.

There’s a part of us that sends that message, GIF, emoji, etc because we anticipate a response coming back to our device eventually. When our device finally lights up with a reply, it also lights up our curiosity because we’re wondering what awaits us when we open the message. It’s just like the anticipated excitement of opening a gift.

But this cycle of digital excitement often replaces genuine connection, depth, and presence in our conversations.

If This Cycle Continues What Happens?

The answer is that no one really knows however, I’ve been studying human behavior and trends for almost 2 decades now and I imagine things will continue to go in the direction they’re currently going in.

What direction is that?

Most of us avoid conversations with strangers when we’re out for 2 specific reasons

1. We’ve become less confident in our ability to hold a conversation and that generates a huge level of anxiety. So we shy away from starting that conversation

2. We’ve become more irritated due to overstimulation, a fast paced world, and pressures to keep doing more for ourselves so we can feel valued. The irritation causes us not to want to engage or connect with someone else because

a) We’re not in a good mood to begin with

b) We view the reward of a new connection or conversation as less valuable than instead using that time to do something to move our own lives forward.

The thing we have forgotten is:

Community is what moves the needle forward

If we look to the past, we see that community and conversations is what got people through difficult times. It allowed them to:

• Heal with a trusted group

• Grow with support and accountability

• Feel genuine value from the listening and sharing of energy in the form of ideas and stimulating conversations.

It’s true that at the beginning, a trip to the gym to workout may provide more value than a simple conversation with a stranger

But over the long-term, a genuine connection with someone is going to do so much more for you than you could ever do for yourself alone

Reconnecting to the important meaning of groups where we can see and feel the energy being shared is what really connects us to our ultimate power. It makes us feel more confident and safer in our environment, especially when threats are looming or things are not going well for us.

Recent documentaries have done studies and shown that one of the most crucial things to living a long life is participating in activities with a community daily.

I myself have been experimenting with this and have noticed incredible results.

I joined a men’s support group 6 months ago where we have weekly calls on video talking about deep topics, sharing vulnerable experiences and yearning to grow together. It’s completely changed the way I feel in my daily life and I look forward to connecting with everyone each week. It’s also improved my public speaking ability by 1000% because it’s an interactive group where we’re asked to share each week and talk about our personal experiences. The difference between speaking on day 1, and speaking now is monumental.

In short, there’s a community for everyone

If you’re looking for your people and are inspired about joining a new community, I have exciting news for you.

Grace Grossmann

and I have teamed up to manifest the ultimate healing space where a community of us can gather to not only grow together, but heal authentically and support one another along our own separate journey’s. It’s a conscious community where we aim to keep everyone engaged with deep, meaningful conversations, spirituality, healing from old wounds, and fostering good habits. It’s the perfect solution to the change, sense of fulfillment, and excitement that we are missing and not getting from our devices.

The best part?

Grace is offering a free month to anyone who wants to try it out! So it’s essentially risk free!

So What’s Inside?

• Judgement free zone where you can be vulnerable and heal

• Guided Meditation offerings to re-ground

• High Conscious Content Recommendations in the form of books, podcasts, and YouTube videos to support healing and self-growth

• Spiritual Readings and Discussions to encourage new angels of growth and healing

• Monthly coaching calls to address our most important needs

• Weekly check-ins to keep motivation high all week!

And that’s just the beginning…

Part of what makes this community so exciting is that we’re all working fast to bring even more value to it and curate it to become the optimal shift that so many of us need right now.

What makes life a rich experience is sharing experiences with like-minded people. There’s no greater lasting dopamine hit than that!

My dad always says:

“You can get rich on your own but fair warning, it’s lonely and cold at the top of the mountain if you’re all by yourself”

Have you ever dreaded going to an event because it just seemed too overwhelming to socialize or you thought you were too tired—But then you ended up going and felt incredible being there. You were left feeling jolts of excitement, seen by the group, valued by others.

You felt this way because this is what your soul truly craves. Interaction, support, a space to share, listen, and grow.

Check out the : Healing Hearts Hub and start your free month.

I think you’ll be glad you did!

Here’s some sneak peaks below on what the community is all about