In 1938, a group of scientists at Harvard University selected 234 sophomores and began what is now seen as one of the most respected longitudinal studies in history.
I first heard of it when watching this viral Ted Talk presented by Robert Waldinger, the former director of the research project now termed the Harvard Happiness Study.
The video starts by saying the majority of people wish to have riches or fame. But, those two things end up not being the most important things.
For instance, when you look back on the richest and most fond moments of your life, most often it is the people in them. And the Harvard Study of Adult Development proved that. For 75 years, they tracked the lives of hundreds of men, and learned that the number one indicator of a good life was the quality and health of their relationships.
Let's read this again: a good life is not determined by having possessions, status, or prestige. A good life is determined by how often you're spending time with those close to you, how focused you are on one another when you spend time together, and how many of your close friends you are able to live life with.
Each of these three things (quality, frequency, and duration) make up a concept termed social fitness. Improving your social fitness will improve the quality and length of your life.
Here are three takeaways:
- Social connections are really good for us. Loneliness kills.
- It is not the quantity of your relationships, but the quality of your relationships.
- Good relationships don't just protect your body, it also protects your brain.
Keep trying to build relationships, keep reaching out to those people closest to you, and never stop caring about the people around you.
Chris
