Relationships: The Most Underrated Survival Skill Right Now

When the world feels unstable, most people instinctively look upward by turning to leaders and institutions. We hope for rescue or repair from our elected politicians, courts, markets and even other countries. This is understandable as large forces shape large outcomes. But there is another layer of society that is less visible but no less powerful and yet we tend to overlook it when we think about resilience: Relationships.

Relationships matter in two very different ways during turbulent times. They help individuals weather storms, and they help societies survive them. These are related but not identical functions. Understanding both helps explain why investing in relationships right now is not just comforting, but critical. This article addresses this issue, and on Thursday Hugo will share his tips on making friends.

Relationships: Making You Resilient

There are so many things we gain from relationships during times of crisis. Here are a few of my favorites.

Emotional Regulation. Many people are feeling political anxiety, which tends to be chronic rather than acute. It is fueled by uncertainty rather than immediate danger, amplified by the constant negative information flow. Many people feel they must remain vigilant but they have so little direct control over what is causing their anxiety. The result is a low-grade but persistent sense of threat.

But humans are wired to be social animals. We were never meant to survive alone and indeed, as a species, we have never been successful at surviving without a community around us. One of the most powerful regulators of emotion is social connection. Talking to someone you trust changes how the brain processes fear. Research shows good social interaction reduce rumination, interrupt catastrophic thinking, help you gain perspective and feel more grounded.

Balance. Relationships in real life also help us regain a sense of proportion or balance. As we know from experience, online environments tend to magnify negativity. The newsfeed and article headlines are meant to highlight conflict, create feelings of outrage, and make us contemplate worst-case scenarios. If most of your exposure to the world comes through screens, it is easy to conclude that everything is falling apart everywhere all the time.

Real interactions provide counter-evidence to the above. When you are out and about, you see people taking care of their children, going to work, planning holidays, helping neighbors. You are reminded that our normal lives usually continue even during political upheaval.

Photo by Beth Macdonald on Unsplash

Sustain Courage. There is always safety in numbers (it’s how and why mutinies, protests and strikes work!)., individuals who take principled stands rarely do so in isolation. They are embedded in networks of support. They know someone will have their back if things become difficult. The sense of belonging to others lowers the perceived cost of engagement.

Protect Joy. This is not trivial! I have talked a lot in the past about the importance of taking breaks from the newsfeed to protect your well-being. And Hugo has written about the importance of play. Civic engagement requires endurance. People who become emotionally depleted disengage. It’s not that they stopped caring but they burned out from the psychological stress.

However, time spent with friends, family, and community restores energy. It preserves the ordinary pleasures that make public life worth defending in the first place. In this sense, relationships act like a psychological buffer. They do not eliminate stress but they give you much needed breaks from it so you can handle it longer.

Relationships not only help us but also our communities impacted by political turmoil.

Social Capital: Making Your Community Resilient

If we zoom out, we see that the same social ties that comfort and protect individuals also create the conditions under which societies remain stable. Social scientists often use the term social capital to describe this phenomenon. It refers to the networks of trust and cooperation that allow communities to coordinate action.

When people know one another, they are more likely to share information, offer assistance, and solve problems collectively. These behaviors become especially important during crises. Research has found that communities weather crises- recovering more quickly from floods, fires and economic shocks- when they have dense relationship networks than weaker ties between the people. Communities with a history of volunteering, high trust, and assisting one are more resilient. The difference is not financial resources. It is the speed with which people mobilize to help one another.

Photo by Ioana on Unsplash

Democracy, in particular, depends heavily on informal mechanisms such as trust, constructive norms and willingness to compromise that emerge from strong social ties between its citizens. Formal institutions establish rules but everyday compliance with those rules relies on mutual expectations. People follow procedures because they believe others will do the same.

In this sense, relationships are a form of civic infrastructure. They are not visible in the way bridges or laws are visible. But they support the entire structure.

Why Investing in Relationships Matters Now

Our modern information environment places unusual strain on both individual well-being and social cohesion. It is not easy having social relationships in real life right now. Many people spend more time consuming political content than participating in community life. And emotional exhaustion makes withdrawal tempting.

All of this can create a feedback loop. As relationships weaken, anxiety increases. As anxiety increases, people retreat further into private spaces or online echo chambers. Breaking this loop does not require grand gestures but it can begin with small, deliberate acts of connection. Here are a few:

Regular rituals. These can help! Things like shared meals, a regular walking date with a friend, or joining a volunteer group. .These repeated interactions create familiarity and trust over time.

Reaching out first also matters. Many people are waiting for someone else to initiate. That someone can be you: A message, a phone call, or an invitation can reactivate relationships that have quietly faded.

Consider weak ties too. It is also useful to cultivate what sociologists call weak ties. These are the casual connections with neighbors, shop owners, or people encountered in everyday routines. Weak ties expand the circle of belonging beyond close friends and family. They are surprisingly important for community resilience and research shows they are not trivial, they really help peoples’ mental well being.

Politics free. Finally, relationships benefit from social interactions that are not about or entirely about politics. People who care deeply about their country often feel compelled to discuss current politics constantly. Yet friendships also need room for books, hobbies, humor, and dogs. These shared experiences replenish emotional reserves rather than draining them.

Final Thoughts

The larger point that I want to make here is straightforward. That is, in times of political turmoil and uncertainty about the future, strengthening relationships is really important. This is because it helps people to stay tuned in and hold up for the long haul in a chaotic, stressful environment.

So heed the call: Invite someone to coffee, or dinner or for a walk. Call a friend Join a volunteer group. Make yourself get up and out to interact when you would rather hide under the covers. It will be good for you. And good for your community too.

On Thursday, Hugo will chime in with his doggo tips for making friends.

Thanks for Reading!
Canada Resists