Insights from the most extensive study on happiness

[jw5]

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? In the modern world, we are told continuously that wealth and achievement will make us happy. However, various notable figures have revealed that becoming rich and famous didn’t make them happier, and research supports it doesn’t.

But how should we spend our energy, and what should we prioritize in our lives to give ourselves the best chance at being our happiest?

 

[jw5]

A mislead society? -

In the modern Western world, through multiple forces, such as the media, we are given the impression that we should lean into our work, that somehow we will feel happy once we have achieved what we set out to do.

 

[jw5]

The Harvard Study of Adult Development -

The Harvard Study of Adult Development may be the most extended study on adult life that has ever been carried out.

 

[jw5]

Beginnings -

Over 80 years ago, in 1940, a team of researchers began tracking the lives of 724 men.

 

[jw5]

Scrupulous evaluations -

The researchers tracked every part of their lives since it began, asking about their home lives, work, family, relationships, and anything else relevant to their lives.

 

[jw5]

One of a kind -

Very few studies of this kind survive very long for several reasons, i.e. people dropping out of the study, funding being stopped, or researchers becoming disinterested (or dying).

 

[jw5]

Multiple generations of participants -

Through a combination of luck and the persistence of several generations of researchers, the study survived. In 2015, about 60 of the original 724 men were still alive and participating in the study. And over 2,000 of the original men’s children are now part of the study too.

 

[eatshitndie]

happiness is 1 smooth shit with zero stains at 6.9am.

 

[jw5]

The original participants -

The original participants were from two groups. One group was indoctrinated into the study when they were sophomore students at Harvard University. These men fought in World War II when they graduated.

 

[jw5]

The original participants -

The second group was made up of individuals from some of Boston’s poorest neighborhoods.

 

[jw5]

Becoming adults -

The participants were interviewed and tested extensively when they joined the study first. They then grew up to become adults in all walks of life. They became doctors, lawyers, drivers, and one participant even became president of the United States (John F. Kennedy).

 

[jw5]

Becoming adults -

But some people became alcoholics, and others developed schizophrenia. Some people went from the bottom of the social ladder to the top, and some went in the opposite direction.

 

[jw5]

Women are indoctrinated -

To get the most precise picture, they didn't just send them questionnaires. They drew their blood, performed brain scans, talked to their children and friends, got their medical records, and even video recorded them speaking with their wives. Eventually, their wives and other women became subjects of the research too.

 

[jw5]

Valuable insight -

By looking at human beings throughout their entire adult lives, the team of researchers can offer some valuable insight into what makes a happy and healthy life.

 

[tanwahtiu]

Valuable insight -

By looking at human beings throughout their entire adult lives, the team of researchers can offer some valuable insight into what makes a happy and healthy life.

Talk to yourself is happy like Larry...

 

[jw5]

Social connection -

To start with, people who are more socially connected to family, friends, and community are physically healthier, happier, and live longer.

 

[jw5]

Loneliness -

Loneliness is a killer. People who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain function declines sooner, and they live shorter lives overall than people who are not lonely.

 

[syed putra]

oneliness -

Loneliness is a killer. People who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain function declines sooner, and they live shorter lives overall than people who are not lonely

Internet forums in some ways solve loneliness issues.

 

[jw5]

Loneliness affects all generations -

The sad fact is that loneliness, especially within populations in more affluent countries, is very prevalent. It is commonplace amongst senior citizens, but younger people are also very susceptible to feeling lonely.

 

[jw5]

The quality of close relationships -

The second most significant lesson from the study was that the quality of people’s close relationships is essential to their happiness.