Relationships—the Secret to Happiness

Many articles, books, and speeches have discussed the secret to finding happiness, but there is only one 75-year study that has attempted to pin down the answer. It’s the Grant and Gluek Study, which began in 1934. And it continues today. The project focuses on the lives of two completely different groups of people—a large group of low-income people from Boston, Massachusetts, and a similarly large group of Harvard graduates. The only finding common to both groups of what ultimately brings joy is quality relationships. Recent studies on the negative effects of loneliness lend support to these findings. Developing strong and positive relationships is a social skill that also has some important ingredients. And it can be learned. If you’re past your teens and younger years and you find your health and relationships are lacking, it can be a bit more of a challenge to fire up an active friends network.

Start with a visit to a workplace counselor or EAP. For advice on reestablishing a social life after lots of time away from the practice of doing so, consider the book “The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You’re Not a Kid Anymore.”

Source: http://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/grantandglueckstudy

Keith Stein | 10/18/2018