A Harvard study that has gone on for 75 years to determine what matters to make a happy, healthy life. The bottom line….
“The good life is built with good relationships.”
A TED talk on the study is available to hear the elements of a good life. Diet, exercise, money, or work are not the most important factors for a happy and healthy life. The biggest factor for happiness is basically LOVE. Nurturing relationships provides the best investment in well-being. A quote from the study that might be helpful is as follows:
The data is also very clear that those who feel lonely are more likely to see their physical health decline earlier and die younger. “It’s not just the number of friends you have, and it’s not whether or not you’re in a committed relationship,” says Waldinger. “It’s the quality of your close relationships that matters.”
What that means is this: It doesn’t matter whether you have a huge group of friends and go out every weekend or if you’re in a “perfect” romantic relationship (as if those exist). It’s the quality of the relationships–how much vulnerability and depth exists within them; how safe you feel sharing with one another; the extent to which you can relax and be seen for who you truly are, and truly see another.
Use this link to listen to the talk by Robert Waldinger. 75 Year Study from Harvard
