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@heykahn

The longest running study on happiness:

Harvard's 84 year old Study of Adult Development.

Here are 7 lessons from the study to help you live a happier life:

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@heykahn
  1. A happy childhood goes a long way:

A happy childhood is correlated with: • Better physical health • Strong relationships in later life • Lower likelihood of depression by 50

We're all beyond our childhood, but this is helpful information for parents.

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@heykahn
  1. But a bad childhood can be compensated in middle age:

A bad childhood can undermine later happiness in life.

But people who focused on nurturing the next generation through parenting and other means had a much happier adulthood than those who didn't.

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@heykahn
  1. Time with loved ones has strong positive effects on happiness:

• Quality of relationships matters more than quantity.

• However, quantity of time spent with those relationships is vital.

• Having a spouse, especially in old age, helped a lot with keeping sadness at bay.

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  1. Coping strategies really help:

These include: • Altruism • Helping the disadvantaged • Suppressing negative feelings

Effective coping strategies were a predictor for better relationships, strong social support, and sharper brains.

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  1. Lifestyle has a significant impact on well being:

Those who aged well: • Were physically active • Didn't smoke or drink much • Had low body weight • Enjoyed stable marriages

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  1. Know when to let go:

• Happier adults were better at letting go of past failures and troubles.

• They spend more of their time focusing on activities and things that bring them joy.

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  1. The most important finding:

Close relationships are the strongest predictor of happiness ― even more so than social class, IQ, fame, money, or even genes.

The folks most satisfied with their relationships at 50, were also the healthiest at age 80.

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@heykahn

This quote from Robert Waldinger, the study's Director, sums it up:

“Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”

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@heykahn

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