The Importance of Happiness
Content Courtesy of the Forever Young Podcast with Christiana Egi and Cherrie-Marie Chiu.
Do you think you are a happy person? We discussed the importance of happiness on our most recent Forever Young podcast and how we can make a good life that brings us happiness. We recently came across a Harvard study on the long-term study of happiness. The study consisted of 75+ years of research on happiness and lessons regarding what makes a good long life.
Your happiness can come within yourself and also through the activities you do in your everyday life! Despite the ups and downs of life, it is important to take the time to do things that bring us happiness. Listen to the full podcast episode below:
The study began in 1938, and it included 268 Harvard men who were all sophomores. After following these men for about 80 years, as part of the Harvard study for adult development, it became one of the world's longest studies of adult life, which includes both physical and mental health. As the study continued, they added Boston inner-city residents, along with the children from the original study group, grandchildren of the study group, and eventually the wives of the men in the study.
You may be asking why it took so long for women to become part of the study. This is because when the study began, Harvard was an all-male university. Over the years, researchers studied the participants’ health trajectories, and their broader lives, their triumphs, their failures, and their careers and marriage, which led to startling lessons.
The most surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships have a powerful influence on our health. We discussed in our podcast on Blue Zones, the importance of community engagement and how it impacts our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Having positive relationships adds a spring to your steps and also gives us purpose which fuels our mental and physical wellbeing.
We say taking care of our body is very important, but tending to our relationships is also a form of self-care as well. The study revealed that close relationships (more than money or fame) is what kept people happy throughout their lives. We have also learned, especially since the pandemic, many people have dealt with loneliness and feeling isolated. This has taught us the importance of community. Our bodies and minds crave that closeness with others that we need to pay attention to.
Another amazing revelation from the study found that people's level of satisfaction with their relationships at the age of 50 was a better predictor of physical health than their cholesterol levels were. It is interesting to see that a study showed that how happy and satisfied you are with your relationships in your marriage, your friends, and your children, at age 50 was a better predictor of your physical health than cholesterol.
Researchers also found that marital satisfaction has a protective effect on people's mental health. Part of the study found that people who had happy marriages in their 80s reported that their moods didn't suffer on the days that they had physical pain. However, those who had unhappy marriages felt both more emotional and physical pain. Look at it this way. When you're in your 50s between 50s and 80s, your children are grown up, you're an empty nester, and if your partner is making you develop so many symptoms because you've been burnt out right? Get rid of them. Get a new purpose in life and be healthy.
We've talked about it before people with strong social support experience less mental deterioration as they age. So when we talk about the importance of friendships and strong close relationships, it's not just about going out to get coffee, it is also about staying mentally healthy, and good relationships don't just protect our bodies, but also protect our brains. Do something such as getting involved and volunteering. Activities like gardening, having a routine, going out, or going on vacation can help keep you active and also happier in the long run.
We hope you enjoyed this little information session on happiness. Taking care of yourself is a key factor to happiness, and not depending on anyone for your happiness. But it is also important to take value in having community and positive relationships. You can read the full Harvard study here to find out more about the importance of happiness and what contributes to a happy life. It is a good reminder to everyone that maintaining a balance in our physical, mental, psychological, social, and emotional well-being is very important. The happier you are the longer you live!
The Forever Young podcast was created and produced by Christiana Egi and Cherrie Marie Chiu. Produced and engineered by Elisse Hill. The podcast represents our opinions and those of our guests. The content should not be taken as medical advice. It is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. If you like our show, please tell your friends and leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. New episodes are available every other Wednesday. Have questions? Email us at ourforeveryoungpodcast@gmail.com.
