Why does connection improve mental resilience?

Supportive relationships help regulate emotions, lower stress hormones and offer perspective. Belonging improves coping and recovery after setbacks.

How can I strengthen my support network this week?

Start small: send a voice note, schedule a walk, or check in with someone who matters. Consistent micro-connections build resilience over time.

What if I don’t have close connections right now?

Join values-aligned groups or communities—clubs, classes, volunteer networks or professional associations—to meet people with shared interests.

How do I reconnect with mentors or people who inspired me?

Reach out with a short thank-you and a specific update on how their advice helped. Genuine appreciation often re-opens the conversation.

What practical habits make relationships stronger?

Listen to understand, not to fix; maintain regular check-ins; and share a little of your own story to invite authenticity and trust.

Can coaching help me build better connections?

Yes. Coaching helps you map your current network, practise communication skills and create a simple weekly plan to deepen meaningful relationships.

Military Mindset

How Connection Strengthens Your Mental Resilience: Mission 4/10

Sam Kinsey-Briggs

Oct 1

3 min read

5

15

0

Two smiling individuals, Sam in royal navy uniform and Sharon in suit with medals, in formal attire wearing medals, posing outdoors with a bridge in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — Connection Strengthens Your Mental Resilience, one of my inspirations - Sharon

Mission 4: Strength in Numbers – The Power of Connection

Welcome to Mission 4 in the ACSIS Life Coaching Mental Fitness Battlebox series. We've explored momentum, nutrition, and rest. Now we focus on connection, the relational backbone of resilience.

In the military, connection holds a unit together. It builds trust, enables teamwork, and sustains morale.

That same sense of belonging and shared purpose is vital in civilian life too. Whether you're navigating transition, grief, uncertainty, or new beginnings, connection is your stabiliser.

Why Does Connection Matter for Mental Resilience?

Connection isn’t just being social. It’s about meaningful relationships that provide support, belonging, and understanding. According to Holt-Lunstad et al. (2015), strong social ties reduce the risk of early death by 45% and significantly lower rates of depression and anxiety.

Connection Supports:

Emotional Regulation

Safe relationships provide space to express what’s hard.

Stress Reduction

Connection triggers oxytocin, which counteracts stress hormones.

Perspective and Meaning

Talking with others can help reframe challenges and offer hope.

A Personal Mission: Sam’s Connection Journey

For ACSIS co-founder Sam Kinsey-Briggs, connection has always been a pillar of her resilience.

As she prepares to leave the military in 2026 and transition into leading ACSIS full-time, she is reflecting on the role connection plays in that shift.

"Connection is what grounds us, whether it’s with family, friends, nature (my dogs!) or colleagues. As I prepare to leave the structure and camaraderie of the military, I’m realising how vital it is to nurture the bonds I have and forge new ones in this next chapter. So tap me up on LinkedIn shipmates! "

Transitions can feel destabilising. But they also invite deeper relationships and new communities.

How to Strengthen Your Connections Intentionally

Building connections doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Small, consistent efforts matter.

Maintain Your “Unit”

Reach out regularly to people who matter. A voice note, a walk, a simple check-in keeps bonds alive. Sam's family are critical: regular catch ups, sibling dinners, braais (BBQs) with the cousins, days out with mum; all help Sam maintain her closest 'Unit'.

Find New Circles

Look for groups, clubs, or networks that align with your values or interests. Community builds momentum.

Listen to Understand

When you’re present and attentive, people feel seen. It strengthens trust.

Reconnect With Purpose

Is there someone who inspired you or helped you grow? Reaching out builds meaningful reciprocity. Sam has some great mentors and inspirations: family, friends and colleagues like Ryan and Sharon....."you inspire me! thank you."

Share Your Humanity

Letting someone in, even a little, invites authenticity in return.

Connection and the Resilience Agenda

Building and maintaining connections for Mental Resilience isn’t just about emotional support; it’s a cornerstone of resilience. At ACSIS Life Coaching, we believe that the strength to thrive comes from the relationships we cultivate. This philosophy aligns with the principles of the Resilience Agenda, which highlights connection as a key element of mental fitness.

Your Mission Briefing

This week, your mission is:

Reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Join (or explore) a group or community that supports your growth.
Reflect: How do these connections affect your energy, mood, and sense of support?

Connection is collective strength. It reminds us we’re never truly alone.

Stay tuned for Mission 5: Lead with Resilience – Mindset Command, where we’ll unpack how your mindset shapes every response you make.