You can see a related article here, called the Primacy of Emotion.
A core principle of, well, life: the primacy of social connection, from infancy to old age.
Our social connections call us, pull us, inspire us, influence us. Basically, very few things in your life have as much to do with everything else as social connection does. It is a deep, hard-wired human need and powerfully influential dynamic in our lives.
One of the most powerful dynamic is social norms. You may have heard something like “you are the average of the 5 closest people to you” — what this is really talking about is the power of social norms. Generally, our tendency is to align ourselves with the beliefs and habits of our peers, the people we relate to the most, and the people we spend the most time with.
Your mini-tribe, your “team” as I sometimes refer to it, influences you through un-stated norms. Your health, wealth, and wisdom are all affected.
It is therefore very worth your time and effort to create and develop your “team” or “mini-tribe” in a way that is conducive to supporting your success. Contribute to others the strength and honesty you want to receive back and your team grows.
Social connection provides you with the necessary ingredients to grow, and….. to thrive: safety, practical support, and inspiration.
Your relationships are in and of themselves valuable and essential to living the good life.
In the end, people are the whole she-bang. Or, much of it, other than your own individual felt experience of living. Investing in your relationships provides the highest quality experience of living.
People are primary in your beautiful life.