Each of us is longing for that one thing that will make our lives complete. For something that will make us say we’ve achieved happiness so we don’t need anything else. It’s true that most of us keep looking, and sadly some in all the wrong places.
As time goes by, it becomes clearer and clearer to me that happiness can be found in our relationships with others. And no, this is not about the constant networking with our peers to climb the social ladder or get a promotion. It’s true that this is important if we want a boost in our career, but it will only take us that far.
Don’t get me wrong: having a bright career is something we all aspire to and it’s rather noble that we want to become better at what we do. We’re dedicated to a cause and ambitious enough to reach our goals and potential. But many of us have reached the top only to realize it’s pretty lonely up there. Then what?
Loneliness alone or solitude are not an issue in themselves. But getting home from work to an ever-empty house can have an impact on our well-being.
Studies show that the greatest source of genuine happiness rests in how connected we are with others.
It’s about the friendships we care most deeply and about our family; if you keep the people you love close, you’ll never feel lonely or empty a day in your life.
Research also tells us there’s a strong correlation between sadness, low self-esteem, or depression and lack of meaningful connections. Moreover, this could also indicate the underlying cause for developing addictions.
We live in a world where we can now instantly “connect” with others on social media, some even from the other corner of the world. Ironically, we seem to become more disconnected than ever. We tend to value privacy and independence over closeness and interdependence. We strive for meaningful connection, but at the same time we prefer to isolate and “connect” from the comfort of our homes. However, this can change once we realize the value of our non-virtual relationships.
So, yes, true happiness rests in the quality (as well as quantity) of our social connections. Our well-being increases significantly when we develop strong bonds and have a good time with our friends.
So keep your loved one close and please share this!
