Is this the secret of happiness?

Over the years dozens of gurus, spruikers, life coaches, self-proclaimed mystics, astrologers, and even ordinary people have debated the secret of happiness.

Generally, wealth and celebrity seem to wend their ugly way into the debate. Many claim that happiness is an individual thing and what makes one person happy is not necessarily right for the other.

Others claim, quite rightly, that health plays an important part. Without health you can’t do anything and life can be a drag.

There is some truth in all the above claims. But, what if I told you that a longitudinal study that ran for over 75 years had finally twigged the secret?

It’s true. The Harvard University School of Medicine has been beavering away with this study through generations of students and after interviewing thousands of people at varying stages of life, come to the conclusion that relationships are what make us happy.

Now, I understand that if you have just had a deadly divorce, lost half of our super and been through a truck load of anger issues that you’ll say “piffle!.” Or worse!

Obviously the bad relationships piss us off. But most people – and I hope you are one of them – have many other relationships with people that you love being with. Whom you play golf or darts with, join at crochet or book reading groups, church groups, and so on.

It’s your association with others that makes your life happier. And from my experience with dogs, they can help make your life wonderful too.

If you don’t believe me, drop in to TED Talks and watch this video (Over the years dozens of gurus, spruikers, life coaches, self-proclaimed mystics, astrologers, and even ordinary people have debated the secret of happiness.

Generally, wealth and celebrity seem to wend their ugly way into the debate. Many claim that happiness is an individual thing and what makes one person happy is not necessarily right for the other.

Others claim, quite rightly, that health plays an important part. Without health you can’t do anything and life can be a drag.

There is some truth in all the above claims. But, what if I told you that a longitudinal study that ran for over 75 years had finally twigged the secret?

It’s true. The Harvard University School of Medicine has been beavering away with this study through generations of students and after interviewing thousands of people at varying stages of life, come to the conclusion that relationships are what make us happy.

Now, I understand that if you have just had a deadly divorce, lost half of our super and been through a truck load of anger issues that you’ll say “piffle!.” Or worse!

Obviously the bad relationships piss us off. But most people – and I hope you are one of them – have many other relationships with people that you love being with. Whom you play golf or darts with, join at croche or book reading groups, church groups, and so on.

It’s your association with others that makes your life happier. And from my experience with dogs, they can help make your life wonderful too.

If you don’t believe me, drop in to TED Talks and watch this video (http://goo.gl/QzjgkZ) by Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger who leads the Harvard Program.

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