Interconnectedness Strategies Menu

Guided Practice for Interconnectedness

Recognizing the changing nature of the self 

An important part of interconnectedness is recognizing the myth of the unchanging self. Listen to the this meditation, and reflect on the changing nature of the self. Over the next couple weeks, seek out other meditations on this concept (here are a few recommendations: No self, no self 2, no self 3). Based on this new-found recognition of an interconnected and changing identity, decide on a couple ways you want to act differently in your day to day life. 

Interconnection Tracking 

For one day, track how your behaviors impact yourself, the people around you, and the environment. After tracking your behavior for the day, notice if any trends emerge in behaviors that increase your well-being and behaviors that make you feel interconnected. Use this sheet to track behavior. For the next 2 weeks, decide on a behavior that you would like to change. Choose a behavior based on your findings on the tracking sheet, one that will increase both your own well-being and your sense of interconnectedness (O’Brien, 2010). 

Interconnectedness Map - web of life Bob Stal 

For the next 2 weeks, continue to build off the interconnectedness map you created in the interconnectedness and personal relationships section. Expand your map to include your relationships with the natural environment and the historical and cultural events that shape your life. This map can help you recognize how much your daily life is influenced by other people and the environment. As you learn to recognize the interconnected nature of your life, find ways to increase both your well-being and well-being of the people and places around you. For example, when creating your interconnectedness map you may notice how much the park behind your house increases your well-being. You can then work on caring for that park by picking up trash. Alternatively, you may notice how much you are dependent on service workers for your daily convenience. You can then act with more gratitude and kindness in your encounters with service workers and perhaps leave a larger tip (O’Brien, 2010). 

Interconnected Gratitude 

For the next 2 weeks, keep an interconnected gratitude journal. In this journal you will note three ways you have benefited from interconnectedness in your daily life. Act on your gratitude journal. Make a point of thanking the people who make your life easier, safer, and more enjoyable. You can do this by sending gratitude letters or simply thanking those who help you. You can also sit in a natural environment and practice savoring the clean air, warm sun, or soft grass (O’Brien, 2010). 

Meditations on Shared Humanity 

For the next 2 weeks, spend time thinking about the similarities you have with the rest of humanity. Spend 10 minutes a day listening to one of the following meditations (Shared humanity 1, Shared humanity 2, Shared humanity 3). Afterwards, think of ways that those who are very different from you have many of the same dreams, desires, and needs. Figure out ways to connect with these people, either by reading stories about groups who are different from you or by purposefully finding ways to connect with people who are different from you. Remember to connect with people in ways that are respectful and that increase the well-being of the person you are connecting with. 

Developing a Sense of Place

We live in a unique ecosystem with many natural places to see. Whether you live in the suburbs or in a city center, chances are there are natural areas around you that you can experience. For the next two weeks spend time learning about how these areas operate—where they get water and nutrients, and what sort of life lives in these areas. By connecting with a natural space close to your home, you can experience the positive psychological benefits of nature connection and extend your interconnected identity to this new space. You can download apps like Seek and Merlin Bird ID to learn more about the plants and birds in your area. Reflect on how you can care for this area as a part of your identity. 

Nurturing Relationships

Spend the first few days of your experiment reflecting on how you influence other people. Write down your initial impressions on the impact you are having on these people. Are you helping them experience a more satisfying and meaningful life? Once you have spent time understanding how you influence other people, decide on a couple ways you want to strengthen your connection with them. This could be a concrete gesture like bringing them a treat, or a more psychological gesture like letting them know how much you love them. Reflect on these strengthened connections at the end of your experiment. 

Connecting with Meaningful Causes 

As a single individual you won't solve every world problem, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a meaningful difference by connecting with meaningful causes. To figure out what causes you want to connect with, we recommend first figuring out your personal values through our values module. While you are welcome to connect with causes you don’t personally care about, choosing causes based on your values will make connecting more enjoyable and personally fulfilling. Connecting with causes may look like donating time or money, advocating for changes in schools or governments, or it may look like showing up in your interpersonal relationships. From an interconnectedness standpoint, your goal in these endeavors is to 1. increase your sense of connection with the cause, 2. decrease your own sense of isolation and separateness, and 3. recognize your responsibility and capability to make the world a better place.