The Single Biggest Predictor of a Good Life
The clearest message from the 75-year Harvard Study of Adult Development is this: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period. Contrary to what many people believe, it is not fame, wealth, or high achievement that leads to a good life. The most important factor for long-term health and happiness is the quality of one's close, personal relationships.
Lesson 1: Social Connections are Critical for Well-Being
People who are more socially connected to family, friends, and community are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than people who are isolated. The experience of loneliness is toxic. Those who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain functioning declines sooner, and they live shorter lives than people who are not lonely.
- Action Point: Actively work to combat loneliness. Make an effort to connect with the people around you in a meaningful way.