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The 3 Pillars of Happiness According to Science

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Having good relationships is the most important pillar of happiness.

Knowing the meaning of your life and acting accordingly enhances happiness.

Enhance your happiness through your work by earning your success and benefitting others.

No one is always happy, but we can do things that improve our level of happiness.

What does it take to increase our happiness? There are three pillars of happiness: (1) good relationships, (2) meaning, and (3) work (if you're a student, that is your "work").

Good relationships are overwhelmingly the most important pillar of happiness. The longest research study of happiness, healthfulness, and well-being is The Harvard Study of Adult Development. It showed that "Among the many predictors of health and happiness, from good diet to exercise to level of income, a life of good relationships stands out for its power and consistency (Waldinger, 2023).

Good relationships are critical for enhancing happiness, including in old age, even if we are dying and in pain. Palliative care physicians reviewed their patients' experiences and concluded, "social connection was the most important element of happiness at the end of life" (Beng, 2022).

We should treat our relationships with family, friends, co-workers, and others with care. It helps to write down the names of everyone we consider part of our meaningful........

© Psychology Today