In this episode, Sean and James discuss adulting struggles—the loss of friendships and social connections, and how to find ways to build a core community. 

Key Takeaways:

• The digital world is a double edged sword; it’s made it easy and difficult to stay connected.
• Having a tribe to socialize with can make a positive impact to your mental health.
• Finding community requires action.

Episode Quotes:

James on the impact of false projections onto your friends

I think a lot of our insecurities, we project onto what other people think about us. That's like what imposter syndrome is. It’s not exactly related, but there is something there where you're insecure about what you're doing, you're insecure about how you’re acting and maybe a choice that you make or an opinion that you have is going to create some concerns. Maybe some people are going to judge you differently. And so, you're projecting those judgments onto what other people might think of you. And with a close group of friends, that judgment or that concern, at some point, once you come to an understanding of each other, it kind of goes away. And so, it doesn't matter when you last call or if you call for no reason.

Sean on the effect of socializing less

Going back to talking about the pandemic, about gaming or the hobbies that we have, the whole point of all these things and what we were doing in our twenties was socializing. And I feel like as we get older, we potentially tend to socialize less. How does that affect our wellbeing and mental health and whatnots? I'm starting to realize, at least for me, there's a toll.