Building Your Mental Fitness Team: 5 Ways to Strengthen Connections

We weren’t meant to do life alone.

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Sure, there’s a lot of strength in independence, but even the strongest among us need others to lean on. Just like athletes train with coaches or musicians grow under the guidance of mentors, our mental endurance is shaped by the people who journey alongside us. It’s part of how we grow stronger, stay grounded, and remember who we are when life gets noisy.

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And here’s the thing: meaningful connection doesn’t just “happen.”

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Especially when life is full (read: meetings, deadlines, family logistics, laundry... everything), connection requires intention. It’s something we have to build and care for, just like any muscle worth developing.

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If you’ve been feeling the pull to strengthen your support system or just want to make your circle feel a little more... connected, we’ve got you.

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5 Ways to Start Building Stronger Connections

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1. Identify Your “Core Team”

Think about the people you truly trust—the ones you’d call when life get real.

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These might be lifelong friends, a close sibling, a mentor, or someone who just gets you. Your core team doesn’t need to be big. In fact, a few deeply trusted people can be far more powerful than a large network of casual contacts.

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Who helps you feel grounded? Who challenges you (kindly) when you need a reality check? Who reminds you of your worth, especially on the hard days?

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That’s your core. Start there.

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2. Initiate Small, Consistent Contact

Staying connected doesn’t always require deep conversations or elaborate plans. Sometimes it’s just a “Thinking of you!” text or sending a meme that made you laugh. These little moments add up.

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They create a sense of ongoing closeness, which builds a kind of emotional safety net before you need it.

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Pro tip: If reaching out always feels like one more thing on your to-do list, try habit-stacking. Send a quick check-in text right after brushing your teeth or during your lunch break. (Yes, it can be that simple.)

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3. Be Honest About Where You Are

No need to spill your soul every time you talk to someone, but letting a friend know, “Hey, I’m not at 100% today,” creates space for real connection.

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Honesty builds trust. It signals: “It’s safe to be real here.”

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And that kind of vulnerability? We’re all craving it.

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4. Reciprocate and Reach Back Out

Relationships thrive on mutual care. When someone reaches out to you, make time to check in, listen without fixing, and be present.

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We don’t need to have all the answers to support someone.

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Sometimes, a simple “That sounds really tough—do you want to talk about it?” is more powerful than a dozen solutions.

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Presence is its own kind of gift.

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5. Invest in Safe, Supportive Spaces

This could be a friend who’s a great listener, a weekly support group, a faith community, or a conversation with a Forte Guide.

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What matters most is showing up regularly in spaces where you feel seen, heard, and supported.

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Your Mental Fitness Is a Team Sport

We often carry an unspoken belief that we’re supposed to handle life on our own. That needing help is something to push past, not lean into.

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But we’re wired for connection. And some of the strongest parts of us are shaped in the presence of others—people who walk beside us, remind us who we are when we forget, and help shoulder the weight when it feels too heavy.

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If that kind of support feels out of reach, you’re not alone.

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It can seem like everyone else has it together, like they don’t need the same care or connection.

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But you might be surprised how many people around you are craving the very same thing.

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We’ve just forgotten how to do it.

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And that means this is a good time to start.