We all search for ways to improve our lives and bring greater quality to our days. Most of us are concerned about longevity and well-being. We want to live a long life, as long as it is filled with happiness, quality, and meaning. We can eat better and exercise. We can pray and meditate more often. And we can engage in activities and thought processes that reduce stress in our lives. While these are all good ways of living longer and better, researchers believe that the key to living a long and healthy life is through good relationships with others. Let’s explore.
Relationships and Quality of Life
Research has shown that despite our socioeconomic status, how much money we make, the car we drive and so on, what makes us happy as we grow into our later life centers around our relationships with other people. Happiness affects many things in our lives. It sounds simple, but there are many factors involved in why this is so, and how it works, and with whom we have relationships.
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Being Social
Having social connections, in general, appears to be good for our physical and emotional health. When we are socially connected to something larger than ourselves, including our family, friends, colleagues, and the community, we tend to be happier, healthier, and live longer than people who are not as connected.
Loneliness is Dangerous
It has been found in research for years, that people who are isolated, withdrawn and less social are lonely and less happy than those who are connected. It also appears that their health, both physically and emotionally, declines more rapidly, right after mid-life. Their brain functions also begin to slow down much faster. And, to make matters worse, they die sooner. Loneliness shorten our life expectancy.
Quality Matters
We can have many relationships with people who bring us conflict, pain and stress, but these are not the kinds of relationships that are associated with long life and happiness. Quite the opposite. Living in conflict and having a stressful marriage can actually shorten your life. Studies have shown that people who have healthy and positive relationships at age 50 are the healthiest by age 80. Even when people in older age experience aches and pain, they are still happy.
Our Brain Loves Good Relationships
Having good relationships with your family, friends, colleagues, and the community appears to act as a buffer or protectant as we age into our 80s and beyond. Happy people have better memories. Being positive also seems to bring about greater cognitive clarity. Depression and sadness do the opposite. They interfere with memory and our ability to concentrate on what matters in our lives. Research also shows that when we feel we can count on others, our brain simply functions better.
Final Words on the Secret to Quality of Life
We all want to be happy and live long and healthy lives. It’s never too late to develop good relationships with others. You can join social clubs, volunteer, or pick up a sport life golf or tennis. You can become more active in your community, especially concerning charitable organizations and your church. Help others make us feel better and brings quality to our lives. It can give us a sense of meaning and purpose, especially as we age. So, don’t be afraid. Do something for someone and widen your circle of relationships.
(NOTE: Interested in learning more about Employee Wellness? Checkout my Employee Wellness CEUs on CEU Academy and try a FREE CEU today!)