Happiness isn’t caused directly by what you do, but rather by what you pay attention to.
A meaningful job, exciting hobbies, optimal health: you would think these are the perfect ingredients for happiness, wouldn’t you? Sure, but only if you actually pay attention to them.
In order to live a happy life, you need to be able to concentrate on what makes you happy.
Good relationships keep us happier 💃 and healthier 🍏
People who are more socially connected, to family, to friends, to the community:
- are happier,
- they’re physically healthier (the happiest, satisfied with 50 are the healthiest at 80)
- and they live longer than people who are less well connected
Close relationships protect people from life’s discontents, help to delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.