We are all searching for happiness. But how do we achieve it? What are its greatest determinants?

The Harvard Study of Adult Development may be the most comprehensive study ever conducted, as it followed its participants for their entire adult lives. The study was started in Boston in 1938 and has already covered three generations: grandparents, parents, and children, who are now considered "baby boomers." It analyzed more than 2000 people throughout 85 years of longitudinal study.

In January, Robert Waldinger, MD, the current director of this incredible study, published the book The Good Life: Lessons From the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, co-authored with the study's associate director, Marc Schulz, PhD.

By following this large population for more than eight decades, the study uncovered the factors most correlated with well-being and happiness. Here, I have summarized some of the authors' main concepts.

Most Important Factors
The study's happiest participants had two major factors in common throughout its 85 years: taking care of their health and building loving relationships with others.

It seems obvious that being in good health is essential to live well. However, to some surprise, researchers determined that good relationships were the most significant predictor of health and happiness during aging. Other authors have confirmed this finding, and research has sought to analyze the physiological mechanisms associated with this benefit.

Professional Success Insufficient
Professional success on its own does not guarantee happiness, even though it may be gratifying. The study revealed that those who were happiest were not isolated. In fact, the happiest people valued and fostered relationships. Levels of education and cultural awareness, which tend to be higher among those with higher salaries, were also important factors for adopting healthy habits (promoted more often as of the 1960s) and for better access to healthcare.

Social Skills
Loneliness is increasingly common and creates challenges when dealing with stressful situations. It is essential to have someone with whom we can vent. Therefore, Waldinger recommends assessing how to foster, strengthen, and broaden relationships. He calls this maintaining social connections and, just as with physical fitness, it also requires constant practice. Friendships and relationships need regular commitment to keep them from fizzling out. A simple telephone call can help. Participating in activities that bring joy and encourage camaraderie, such as sports, hobbies, and volunteer work, may broaden the relationship network.

Happiness Not Constant
Social media almost always shows the positive side of people's lives and suggests that everyone lives worry-free. However, the truth is that no one's life is free of difficulties and challenges. Social skills contribute to resilience.

It is never too late for a turnaround and for people to change their lives through new relationships and experiences. Those who think they know everything about life are very mistaken. The study showed that good things happened to those who had given up on changing their situation, and good news appeared when they least expected it.

This study highlights the importance of having social skills and always cultivating our relationships to help us become healthier, overcome challenging moments, and achieve the happiness that we all desire.

We finally have robust evidence-based data to use when speaking on happiness.

LINK: We are all searching for happiness. But how do we achieve it? What are its greatest determinants?

The Harvard Study of Adult Development may be the most comprehensive study ever conducted, as it followed its participants for their entire adult lives. The study was started in Boston in 1938 and has already covered three generations: grandparents, parents, and children, who are now considered "baby boomers." It analyzed more than 2000 people throughout 85 years of longitudinal study.

In January, Robert Waldinger, MD, the current director of this incredible study, published the book The Good Life: Lessons From the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, co-authored with the study's associate director, Marc Schulz, PhD.

By following this large population for more than eight decades, the study uncovered the factors most correlated with well-being and happiness. Here, I have summarized some of the authors' main concepts.

Most Important Factors
The study's happiest participants had two major factors in common throughout its 85 years: taking care of their health and building loving relationships with others.

It seems obvious that being in good health is essential to live well. However, to some surprise, researchers determined that good relationships were the most significant predictor of health and happiness during aging. Other authors have confirmed this finding, and research has sought to analyze the physiological mechanisms associated with this benefit.

Professional Success Insufficient
Professional success on its own does not guarantee happiness, even though it may be gratifying. The study revealed that those who were happiest were not isolated. In fact, the happiest people valued and fostered relationships. Levels of education and cultural awareness, which tend to be higher among those with higher salaries, were also important factors for adopting healthy habits (promoted more often as of the 1960s) and for better access to healthcare.

Social Skills
Loneliness is increasingly common and creates challenges when dealing with stressful situations. It is essential to have someone with whom we can vent. Therefore, Waldinger recommends assessing how to foster, strengthen, and broaden relationships. He calls this maintaining social connections and, just as with physical fitness, it also requires constant practice. Friendships and relationships need regular commitment to keep them from fizzling out. A simple telephone call can help. Participating in activities that bring joy and encourage camaraderie, such as sports, hobbies, and volunteer work, may broaden the relationship network.

Happiness Not Constant
Social media almost always shows the positive side of people's lives and suggests that everyone lives worry-free. However, the truth is that no one's life is free of difficulties and challenges. Social skills contribute to resilience.

It is never too late for a turnaround and for people to change their lives through new relationships and experiences. Those who think they know everything about life are very mistaken. The study showed that good things happened to those who had given up on changing their situation, and good news appeared when they least expected it.

This study highlights the importance of having social skills and always cultivating our relationships to help us become healthier, overcome challenging moments, and achieve the happiness that we all desire.

We finally have robust evidence-based data to use when speaking on happiness.

link https://www.medscape.com/viewa...5325SY&impID=5641534

Happiness is a warm gun.

It’s really simple: Love one another.

Happiness is a state of mind.

I've come to learn that I don't think happiness is a real thing. I think as people we just become satisfied enough that your not miserable.

quote:

Originally posted by gambit123:
I've come to learn that I don't think happiness is a real thing. I think as people we just become satisfied enough that you're not miserable.

There's a basis for this opinion. For thousands of years of human existence, daily life consisted of trying to avoid being killed by nature every minute, spending most of your awake life trying to find food to survive, and then finding a place to rest where you wouldn't be eaten by predators in your sleep. Not a lot of time to devote to your feelings.

Now people commit suicide when they don't get enough "likes" on their Facebook posts.

Kinda funny...these guys spent 85 years studying something and then drawing conclusions that have been known for hundreds of years by anyone willing to read a history book. Man has always been a social animal. Probably always will be.

Best advice I ever read was something to the effect of, "Live where you want to live and be married to the person you want to be married to. The rest will fall into place." It sure has worked out that way for me and I feel like the only control I ever had over any of it was moving to where I wanted to be and marrying Mrs. Lee.

My daughter sent me this video 10 years ago. I played it at a Forest Leadership Team meeting and it was well received. This thread made me think of it again. It’s not very long and I always have a smile on my face as it ends. Maybe some of you will like it too.



I might add, one of the societal changes most noticeable to me is a lack of gratitude; too many seem to think they’re owed something.

It's missing one thing I came across in Nov 30, 2006 and have been practicing ever since. It was a radio segment I listened to while stuck in commute traffic for two hours and fifteen minutes after a stressful day at work. It was also a study on happiness. The study was between two groups - one kept a daily journal writing three things for which they were grateful and the other group did not keep a journal. The group that wrote down three things for which they were grateful every day was happier than the other group.

At that point in my life, I was far from happy so I tried it and I still continue to this day on a weekly basis. I think the take away is that those with a grateful attitude are aware of the positive things in their life and are happier for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Bassamatic:
Kinda funny...these guys spent 85 years studying something and then drawing conclusions that have been known for hundreds of years by anyone willing to read a history book. Man has always been a social animal. Probably always will be.

Yes, but they got paid to do it. They got grant dollars for this work.

I will not dispute their research, but have another thought as well.

Happiness is not something that is pursued as an end goal. It can be a result of being a good person and/or doing good for others.

That is not to say this is the ONLY way to find it, but it is one way it that may be found.

A person with a sole goal to find happiness would, I expect, find it fleeting. So fleeting that disappointment may be the more frequent companion.

quote:

Originally posted by bdylan:
Happiness is a state of mind.

Exactly. I have often stated that one is in control of one's own happiness. Although other factors may have an impact, how one thinks about it is foremost. Poor or rich, some people find happiness. If a person wants to be happy, a way to happiness will be found.

flashguy

True happiness is not having the best of everything…
It’s making the best, of everything you have.

“It’s not getting what you want, it’s wanting what you’ve got.”

My wife’s super power is observing when I’m happy and pretty much putting a stop to that nonsense lol