“Why Other People Are the Key to Our Happiness”
“it has become increasingly apparent to me that happiness comes from “with” as much as it comes from “within.”…
Happiness is not a solo enterprise and well-being doesn’t occur in a vacuum. We are social creatures and our well-being — both physical and mental — depends on our connections.(link is external) According to the World Happiness Report 2013,(link is external) generosity and social support are, in fact, two of the strongest predictors of well-being.
Research (link is external)shows that the happiest people do have close ties to friends and family. Social interaction beyond one’s immediate circle is important too. Studies(link is external) show that people who connect with others — even strangers on a train or in the checkout line — report brighter moods. Behavioral scientists call this “social snacking.” It may be the healthiest snack in the world."
American culture can take individualism to absurd lengths. Let’s roll it in a bit.
And the importance of community for health is something I think about a lot. I think humans are communal animals. And there is some fascinating research about how much we need each other in order to fully experience the world.
Related: “Without Friends or Family, even Extraordinary Experiences are Disappointing”; “Coregulation ‘for better or worse’: The transmission of positive and negative emotions in close relationships”
