Dr. Julia Garcia

And the three main reasons are, we don't want to look weak, we don't want to burden anyone, and we don't think anyone cares.

And again, I want to share a quick story.

This past weekend at my book launch, I had another person come up to me and they told me that it was really hard for them to be in social spaces, that they had been isolating in their bedroom for a really long time.

And this plays on so many different things that I see on a weekly basis of people of all ages and demographics really in this isolation state.

And there's a

that being in the digital era is a huge reason why people are isolating more.

They're isolating in this comfort, even if they have this innate desire to connect.

And that what we can do when we're feeling that way is do basically the hardest thing possible.

And it's to have that courageous connection with someone to tap in support.

to build our pillars of support around us.

And it doesn't have to be a ton of people.

It could be like one or two people.

But when we have hope besides each other, it strengthens it.

And it also keeps us accountable.

And we enjoy the journey a lot more when we can build the relationships that we innately desire.

And I didn't think it was a serious substantial thing at all.

I was like, this is a fluffy concept.

I couldn't even get behind it at first.

But when you think of the absence of hope, you realize in that moment how powerful and important and critical hope is.

Because it doesn't solve our problems magically, but it activates the parts of our mind that help us solve them.