Building Good Lifestyle Habits: Community in Los angeles
In this blog I want to shine a light on the lifestyle habit of creating and strengthening positive social relationships. Positive relationships are those that make us feel loved, valued, and supported. They come in all shapes and sizes - family, friends, spouses, partners, colleagues, and co-workers - to name a few. Relationships are a key component of our human experience and are emphasized in the acronym ‘PERMA,’ which is used in positive psychology to highlight the components of life that contribute to ‘flourishing.’ We are said to be flourishing when we experience optimal functioning rather than moderate wellbeing (Seligman, 2013)
PERMA stands for:
Positive Emotions – such as happiness, joy, satisfaction, and contentment
Engagement – a “flow” state (Csikszentmihalyi, 1990); connection with the present moment when involved in a task, activity, or relationship
Relationships – having positive connections and bonds with others
Meaning – a sense of purpose in life; contributing to something bigger than yourself; alignment with values
Achievement – working toward and reaching goals; developing a sense of mastery; satisfaction (Butler & Kern, 2016)
You may see how these components can support each other. For example, when we are engaged with something bigger than ourselves and contributing to a larger purpose, we could feel in a ‘flow’ state resulting in goal achievement. And perhaps we did that task alongside some good people who brought excitement into our hearts and bodies. Together, these components are said to produce ‘flourishing’ – or optimal functioning.
Yet, at times it can feel like our lives fall short in the relationship department. This could be because sometimes it feels like there’s no one to call on a Friday night or because there are too many demands in the day as a partner, parent, and earner to carve out time for friends. Perceiving oneself as not having positive relationships can contribute to loneliness which can fuel unhelpful beliefs like “I’m not worth it” or “I’m unlovable.” These are examples of beliefs that sometimes rest ‘below the surface’ of our daily awareness, but can contribute to anxiety, depression, and difficulty navigating life’s stressors and changes.
As adults, it can be hard to know where to turn to make friends. School and work are traditional places where people make friends, but after the school years are over and post-COVID, we may have far less opportunity to meet people in these settings. So, I wanted to compile a list of ideas that could help us create and strengthen different types of relationships by turning toward the community.
The community can be a rich resource for positive relationships, from familiar faces at the coffee shop to others you meet at run club and form lasting friendships. What makes me especially excited about community is that it can simultaneously present opportunities for ‘stacking’ other good lifestyle habits - like exercising and moving, finding locally sourced nutrition, connecting with others in similar phases of life, and helping others.
A recent study (Duplantier et al., 2025) found that adults with chronic health issues who participated in a Community as Medicine™ (CAM) health coaching program significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and isolation. Over a three month period, participants engaged in weekly 90-120 minute group meetings that included physical activity with others, mindfulness, and nutrition lessons. A significant increase was also found in participants’ intake of fruit and vegetables and their weekly minutes of exercise. As a result of the program, participants reported feeling an enhanced sense of:
Belonging; feeling valued
Ability to share thoughts and feelings without judgment
Support, both giving and receiving
Self-worth
This research suggests that community focused efforts can have many benefits; and, you may keep ‘PERMA’ in mind for some extra direction on how to get the most out of your community involvement. You might think “What can I do in the community that could support:” Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Achievement.
This is the Los Angeles Edition. If you’re not based in LA, I hope these ideas may be a good starting point for local community offerings.
Please note: The links below to other websites are for informational and reference purposes only. This website does not endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services or information described or offered at these other websites.