According to a recent poll of millennials, over 80% stated that one of their major life goals was to be rich; 50% stated that they wanted to be famous. We have all heard the old adage that money can’t buy you happiness. So why are people still convinced that it can?
What really keeps us healthy and happy as we go through life? Where should you focus your time and energy in order to invest in your best self? One of the people in the best position to answer these questions is Robert Waldinger, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, director of the Center for Psychodynamic Therapy and Research at Massachusetts General Hospital, and directer of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, a 75-year-long study on the lives of 724 adult men.
Perhaps the longest study of its kind, it has revealed that the keep to happy, healthy living is having happy, healthy relationships. Having strong bonds with others not only protects us from feeling lonely (which 1 in 5 people feel at any given time), it helps to solidify our mental and physical well-being as well.
For those struggling with social anxiety, this can seem like bad news. Many people struggle with building and maintaining relationships. Let’s face it: relationships require work. And about 15 million American adults have social anxiety disorder. Social anxiety is more than just feeling shy; it is characterized by the extreme fear of being judged or scrutinized by others in various social situations.
There is hope. If you are struggling with social anxiety or think you might be, give me a call. I would love to talk to you about how I can help you to overcome your fears and foster positive relationships with others. After all, positive relationships are the key to happier, healthier lives.
