Ever wonder what the world’s happiest people have in common? Believe it or not, researchers analyzed this and discovered it wasn’t due to money, smarts, age, gender or race. It was their connection to strong social relationships.
The Grant Study (Harvard University) which ran for over eighty years, followed a group of men their entire lives and found that “the capacity to love and be loved was the single strength most clearly associated with subjective well being at age eighty.” Fun fact ~ married men are happier.
Another interesting fact is that busy people tend to be happier than those with too much excess time. Since most of us fall into the busy category, it means we need to “make time” for our happiness. It’s ironic that while we cherish our happy moments, when they happen, we tend to treat them as a random bit of luck. Psychologists warn that passively waiting for happiness is a losing proposition. We need to schedule regular appointments with happiness.
February is all about sharing time with those we care for, whether it is our loved ones on Family Day or a special someone on Valentine’s Day.
This month do things that bring you joy. Schedule fun dates with your partner and spend time with people who energize you. Give yourself permission to relax, play and laugh.