Want to know a secret to a healthier and happier life

Who would not want a healthier, happier and longer life?

Renowned Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger presented the findings of a study where they studied 724 men from teenage till  old age, with an intent to understand what keeps people healthy and happy.  The studies started from when they were teens and through their lives.

The 75 year old study – The Harvard Study on Adult development – (which is still going on with some of the people who are still alive) – gives a clear message.  Good Relationships keep us healthier and happier.

“Good Social connections are the key to healthier and happier lives”.

Let us understand more about what Good Social connections are about.

By social connection, the reference is not to your huge list of friends on Facebook or WhatsApp or followers on Instagram.

Here we are talking about real world connections that are strong and reliable – be it your spouse/partner, children, other family, friends, neighbors, colleagues, and your society as a whole. You could possibly have a few good connections or many. The number of these connections does not matter but the quality of those connections do.

You might be attending social events and occasions every day, you might be attending parties every other day. But it is possible that you might feel lonely even in a crowd. You might be in a committed relationship like a marriage and still feel lonely. He says – “Being in a high conflict relationship, without much affection, turns out to be very bad to our health, perhaps even worse than getting divorced. And living in the midst of good relationships is protective”.

You may be married or in a relationship or single. You may have siblings and relatives or you may be the single child. You may be employed outside or you may be a home maker. No matter what your background is –

Some questions that are relevant to ask yourself would be –

• Are you with people, whom you strongly believe that you can rely on, and count on them when you are in real need?
• Do you have people around you whom you feel secure with and trust?
• Can you be your real self with people around you? Can you share and talk openly with them?
• How much effort are you putting to make these real connections in your life and to sustain those connections by nurturing them?

If you think you are not doing enough- then it is high time that you start.