• Rupali Gangrade

Meaningful social connection is an important aspect of psychological well-being, yet opportunities for social interaction do not necessarily translate into meaningful interpersonal relationships. As individuals grow and navigate different roles and experiences, they may seek conversations and connections that extend beyond their existing social circles. The present paper develops a conceptual framework for understanding the potential role of shared meaningful orientation and perceived common ground in facilitating platonic connections between unfamiliar individuals. Drawing on psychological literature concerning the need to belong, perceived similarity, interpersonal attraction, shared reality, and communication between unfamiliar individuals, the paper integrates these perspectives into an applied framework termed Conscious Connection. The framework informs the development of a proposed digital platform centred on spirituality, self-awareness, inner exploration, and personal growth as shared foundations for meaningful social interaction. Designed to facilitate friendship-oriented connections across genders, the platform envisions a space where individuals can share experiences, exchange perspectives, listen to others, and explore dimensions of themselves that may not always find expression within their existing relationships or social settings. The framework proposes that making meaningful common ground visible at the beginning of an interaction may provide a useful starting point for mutual understanding and engagement. It also identifies the potential relationship between interactional effort and connection fatigue as an area requiring empirical investigation. By integrating psychological perspectives with an applied conceptual model, the paper offers a foundation for future research and the development and evaluation of digital platforms designed to support meaningful, spiritually oriented social connection. The proposed framework remains conceptual and requires empirical testing.

meaningful social connection, spirituality, platonic connections, perceived common ground, interpersonal similarity, self-awareness, conceptual framework

"CONSCIOUS CONNECTION: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONNECTION", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 10, page no.b407-b416, October-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2610141.pdf

"CONSCIOUS CONNECTION: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR MEANINGFUL SOCIAL CONNECTION", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 10, page no. ppb407-b416, October-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2610141.pdf