“Healthy relationships should always begin at the spiritual and intellectual levels – the levels of purpose, motivation, interests, dreams, and personality.” ~Myles Munroe
Ah, the elusive healthy relationship! Something that sounds so simple, and yet it can be so difficult for some of us to find. That’s why, while many people keep their circles small, it’s so important to keep the quality of the company in mind.
And now, there’s one more reason to stay close to the kind, compassionate people in your life who make it better! A new Harvard study finds that healthier relationships equal a healthier you.
Shocked?
Neither were we – especially since we’re so aware of the damage that toxic relationships can cause to our lives. Read more about the study here.
What keeps people happy and healthy? A landmark Harvard study that tracked the lives of more than 700 men has found an answer: good, close relationships.
We forget about the things that we can’t control; we forget what has happened to vast numbers of people in their lives.
But what if we could watch entire lives as they unfold over time? What if we could study people from when they were teenagers and into old age to see what really keeps people happy and healthy?
The Harvard Study of Adult Development, a prospective cohort study, may be the longest study of adult life. The researchers tracked the lives of two groups of men from 1938 onwards.
So the message is that good, close relationships are good for our health and wellbeing. This wisdom is as old as the hills. But if it was hard to get and easy to neglect before, it feels harder now on both counts.
During these hard times, modern medicine is in danger of losing an old-fashioned yet powerful tool for building relationships: the human touch. It is difficult to build a two-way connection between patients and physicians when doctors must wear a suit that prevents patients from even recognizing who’s behind the mask.
Despite this, all we need do is start by communicating well with our patients, and ensure they have strong family and community support. Today, a good relationship is not just a basic need that people can afford to neglect, it is a real challenge. After all, a healthy and happy life stems from good relationships.
