The One Thing That Will Really Make You Happy

May 09, 2016


What really makes us happy and healthy? According to the longest study of human development that’s ever been done, it’s not money, not fame, and not a high-powered career. According to Robert Waldinger, the (fourth!) director of the 75-year-old Harvard Study of Adult Development, “Good relationships keep us happier and healthier, period.” (Click here to see Waldinger’s TED talk on the subject.) 

That’s good news—because building close connections is something we can all do, no matter where we live, no matter how much money we have, or what kind of work we do. Waldinger noted that people didn’t have to be in a committed relationship, or have a huge number of friends to see the benefits. What mattered was the quality of the relationships. With that in mind, here are three simple ways we can improve our oh-so-important-for-happiness relationships:

Touch base more often. If you’re like me, you often take your friends and family for granted, missing out on opportunities to build closeness. One of my goals in 2016 has been to keep in better touch with those I love, using whatever method they find easy to use. Many of my loved ones live far away from me, so I’ve been texting, calling, sending messages on Facebook, even—gasp!—writing snail mail letters more often.   If they do live near me, I’m making more of an effort to spend time together. I feel more connected to my family and friends, and that makes me happier.

Show appreciation. Research shows that feeling appreciated is one major contributor to lasting loving relationships. Think about all the ways your loved one contributes to your life—does your spouse earn a good living? Is your mom a great listener? Does your son or daughter make you laugh?  What about that friend who never forgets your birthday? Let him or her know you’ve noticed and say thank you. We just hosted a big weekend family gathering and not only did everyone thank us, they brought us a card and gift! It feels good to be appreciated—and we’re also much more likely to want to host future family events because we know our family appreciates it when we do.

Love the one you’re with. Have you noticed that your partner (or child, parent, or friend) isn’t perfect, or doesn’t always behave just as you’d like them to? Yup, so have I. Instead of wasting time fretting about this, really see them, appreciate them for who they are, and don’t try to change them. Love them anyway. The following quote has helped me enormously (unfortunately, I can’t remember who said it): “Love them with your heart, not your ego.”

I feel lucky to have many close and loving relationships with family and friends, and knowing how important those connections are to my happiness and health only makes me want to work harder on staying close. It’s a simple pleasure within reach of us all.

How do you stay connected with the people you love?

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6 comments

  1. Dear Kathy a superb post. Especially important to accept those we love without any desire to change them...just the way I want to be accepted. Thanks for this great post friend. Have a super day. Hugs!

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  2. Wonderful post and I thank you for it. Mother's Day was not what I was hoping for. 5 children and only 2 called and 1 of them was the only child that sent me a card. 3 did nothing. I seek for happiness because that is how I want to be and what I want to give others. I was lamenting their lack of demonstrative love and being disappointed because that is what I want. Reading this really helps me see things from a different perspective. I am printing your post so that I can refer to it and remember its wisdom. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

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  3. Yes, Kathy. As an introvert, I too often resist opportunities to connect. It's a bit of a dilemma because I know that when I do, happiness does fill my energy. Email and letters are one way, but spending time together, even if it's in silence is wonderful.

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  4. Debbie--Thanks. Good point that we want others to accept us as we are, too.

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  5. Poodlekrazee--No one can break your heart quite like your children can. I'm sorry you felt the pain of disappointment on Mother's Day, but I'm happy that this post was able to help you a little bit. I appreciate your taking the time to tell me so.

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  6. Rita--Sometimes it's a challenge to balance our need to connect with others with an introvert's need for solitude to recharge. For me, this weekend was a good example of that. I had a blast with all the visiting family, felt the recharging of happiness and connection, and then greatly enjoyed my solitude on Monday. The best of both worlds!

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