If you are like most of us you want to feel deeply connected to other people, fully seen, understood, and appreciated by them, and above all you want to feel secure in those relationships. One of the most profound experiences you can have in your life is the connection you have with other human beings. You enhance your well-being and share it with others by building strong relationships with the people around you – family, friends, coworkers, neighbours.
The Harvard Study of Adult Development has researched happiness for more than 80 years. Their studies show that initially people tend to assume that wealth and fame are keys to happiness. However, what has been repeatedly shown to be true is that those who actually fared best were “people who leaned into relationships with family, friends and community.” Their social networks helped shaped their personal and professional lives. Even when their social relationships changed due to retirement, moving or the death of a loved one, they nurtured new relationships.
The leading predictor of happiness is what social scientists call pro-social behavior – how people interact with other people. By nature, we are hard-wired to bond and depend on other humans. We thrive on human connections with parents, siblings, peers, friends, boss, and coworkers. Your positive relationships that promote love, intimacy, and a strong emotional and physical interaction help you to be more authentic and emotionally rich because you trust the community of humans around you to be supportive. Oppositely, when you are isolated chances are your pain centres become more active. Strong relationships, belonging to a group (no matter how small) helps you feel safe and valued. They also provide support in difficult times that require you to be resilient. It is within these positive relationships that you have the best opportunities to enrich your life, boost your well-being and increase your level of happiness.
