How to Provide a Support System to Others
Be the friend you’d like to have in your corner when it matters most.
Be the friend you’d like to have in your corner when it matters most.
Support systems play a crucial role in helping us work through feelings of exhaustion, stress and overwhelm from mental, physical and financial struggles. When the going gets tough, it’s your trusted network who leans in to lift you, offers perspective and does what they can to help guide you forward. Providing the same for friends and loved ones is one of the greatest gifts of life.
What it is
From a sociological standpoint, humans thrive communally. According to one study from the European Journal of Social Psychology, we are one of the most collaborative, highly-communicative species on the planet.
A support system collectively describes all of the people in our lives whom we know we can count on. This may include friends, family and also peers like colleagues, co-workers or other community members whom you trust and respect.
Why they matter
A support system serves many purposes. When life gets difficult, having a support system means having a trusted community to turn to for advice and guidance, outpourings of love and encouragement, and even tangible support (e.g. food and shelter, financial assistance or employment resources).
A support system also plays a pivotal role in our emotional lives, serving as an empathetic sounding board for all ranges of emotions and offering reassurance and comfort when we’re at our most real, raw and vulnerable.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a support system is a critical tool in managing stress and has other proven benefits too, ranging from alleviating the effects of emotional distress to boosting self-esteem. In short, a support system allows us to feel seen, heard, understood and loved.
What to do
You don’t need to be in touch with everyone you know and care about on a daily basis to be part of a friend or loved one’s support system. What’s more important is tending to your orbit of relationships on an ongoing basis.
Keep the lines of communication open. Stay in touch through phone calls, emails, texts or whichever way fits best.
Champion their successes and milestones in life and career. It’s a simple way to let others know you are following along, support them and that you care.
Express gratitude for your friends and loved ones. Send thoughtful birthday wishes, thank yous for things they do for you—even out-of-the-blue messages to let them know you care.
Don’t ignore others. Be open and available when you are needed. When someone does reach out, make time for them, however little, and listen to what they have to say with an open heart.
Summary
A few takeaways:
— A support system can extend from friends and family to colleagues, co-workers and trusted community members.
— Having a strong support system has many proven benefits, including stress management.
— One of the best ways to provide a support system is to keep the lines of communication open — stay in touch.
— Be open and available when you are needed.