How does happiness impact our health? Do happy people live longer? What can we do to increase our happiness?🌻

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by the topic of happiness and what it means to live a happy life. My curiosity has led me to incredible books, inspiring teachers, meaningful work, and profound conversations that have all played a role in helping me unpack the question that lies in the hearts of so many of us.

I am honored to be featured in a beautiful and thought-provoking piece on Brit + Co all around how happiness impacts our health (according to science!).

Get excited to learn more about one of my favorite studies on happiness and what science is telling us is key to living a long and happy life (hint: it’s why we all crave more time with our loved ones!).

This is one of my favorite features so be sure to grab a cup of tea and give it a read! 🍵

As quoted:

WHAT’S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACHIEVE HAPPINESS?

Scientists have been looking into that as well and they might have an answer. Elizabeth Su, life coach and mindfulness expert in California, says, “There is a fascinating Harvard study (the longest longitudinal study on happiness) that proves that people who invest in their relationships live longer and happier lives.” For the Harvard Study of Adult Development, researchers started following a group of 268 graduates from the college’s classes of 1939-44 in 1938. Later, in the 1970s, they added 456 men from inner-city Boston to the project. The purpose was to examine the connection between happiness and health.

“The study shows that although people tend to rank money and fame as the most important contributors to a good life, having meaningful relationships is in fact the most significant,” explains Su. They found that beyond social class or genetics, or even cholesterol levels, the number one indicator of someone’s ability to ward off ill health was their positive relationships with others. “There are many things that contribute to a happy life, but this study suggests that spending time with your loved ones is not only fun, but good for your health,” Su says. We can find happiness in many things big and small, from a dream vacation to a pumpkin spice latte. But it seems that the best way to make us truly happy — and healthy — is through strong relationships with those people who make a long life worth living.

Click here to access the full Brit + Co article: This Is the Most Effective Way to Find Happiness, According to Science

Photo by Kim Carpenter on Unsplash