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In 1938 researchers connected with Harvard University began a study of happiness. They started with a group of teenagers from Harvard College and a group of teens from one of Boston’s poorest neighborhoods. This gave them two contrasting groups: one very privileged and one highly disadvantaged. They were tracked their entire lives and, later were added their spouses (for gender balance). Today they are studying their children. This research has gone on for 85 years to date.
In his book, The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, Dr. Robert Waldinger was asked: “Watching and talking to people over the course of their whole lives, what did you learn about what makes life happy and meaningful?” Dr. Waldinger said two important lessons emerged.
First is the importance of maintaining good health. “If you take care of your health, you are happier, healthier, and you live longer. That’s not a surprise, but it’s important to know there’s hard science behind this, that taking care of our bodies—not drinking too much, getting exercise, all of those things—really matters to leading a happy life.”
The second factor was the importance of had close, positive connections with others. This came as “more of a surprise to us” Dr. Waldinger said. “We found that the people who were healthiest, happiest, and lived longest were people who had warm, closer connections with other people. So better relationships actually get inside your body and impact your health.”
There are three observations I draw from this study.
1) Maintaining good health should be a “no brainer” yet people are not using their brain. Every day I encounter people smoking (cigarettes or marijuana). Every day I come across people who drink far too much alcohol and are functional alcoholics. And, of course, every day I see people who are clearly over fed but vastly under exercised.
2) In spite of our ability to “connect” via modern technology (zoom, social media, texting etc) people are more lonely than they’ve ever been. In fact, studies indicate strongly that loneliness is rising and may become a psychological epidemic.
3) It’s never too late to take corrective steps, to change the direction of life. No one is ever beyond the point of self-redemption. Rectifying simple requires an awakening for turning waekness and suffering into favorable conditions.
In his book, The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, Dr. Robert Waldinger was asked: “Watching and talking to people over the course of their whole lives, what did you learn about what makes life happy and meaningful?” Dr. Waldinger said two important lessons emerged.
First is the importance of maintaining good health. “If you take care of your health, you are happier, healthier, and you live longer. That’s not a surprise, but it’s important to know there’s hard science behind this, that taking care of our bodies—not drinking too much, getting exercise, all of those things—really matters to leading a happy life.”
The second factor was the importance of had close, positive connections with others. This came as “more of a surprise to us” Dr. Waldinger said. “We found that the people who were healthiest, happiest, and lived longest were people who had warm, closer connections with other people. So better relationships actually get inside your body and impact your health.”
There are three observations I draw from this study.
1) Maintaining good health should be a “no brainer” yet people are not using their brain. Every day I encounter people smoking (cigarettes or marijuana). Every day I come across people who drink far too much alcohol and are functional alcoholics. And, of course, every day I see people who are clearly over fed but vastly under exercised.
2) In spite of our ability to “connect” via modern technology (zoom, social media, texting etc) people are more lonely than they’ve ever been. In fact, studies indicate strongly that loneliness is rising and may become a psychological epidemic.
3) It’s never too late to take corrective steps, to change the direction of life. No one is ever beyond the point of self-redemption. Rectifying simple requires an awakening for turning waekness and suffering into favorable conditions.
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