Day 72 of 90 · Connection
Message one old friend
“I sent "Thought of you today, how are you?" to someone I hadn't spoken to in a year. They loved it.” — Kai
Today's action · 5 min
Think of one person you've lost touch with and send them a short message today. It can be as simple as "Saw this and thought of you."
Why it works
Liu and colleagues found across preregistered experiments that people consistently underestimate how much others appreciate being reached out to, especially when it's a surprise. The message feels small to send and bigger to receive.
Source: The surprise of reaching out: Appreciated more than we think (Liu et al., 2023)
Educational content, not medical advice. If you are struggling, contact a qualified professional (Lifeline 13 11 14 in Australia, 988 in the US).