Our professors told us that this quote by Chris Peterson summed it all up on our first day in our positive psychology graduate program. At the time, I thought to myself “oh sure.” But it’s true.
Here’s what I learned:
- People in positive relationships are physically healthier and heal faster.
- People in positive relationships have more positive emotions and are more resilient. Positive relationships help children become more resilient.
- People who give have more positive emotion than those who receive. Also, givers tend to be more successful than takers.
- The meaning and purpose we feel in our lives largely pertains, ultimately, to our impact on others.
- Our motivation to do a task depends on whether we can relate the task to impact on others or relevance to a larger goal.
- Positive relationships enable an organization to rise to the next level.
- Employee engagement is causally related to profitability and strongly related to having a best friend at work.
- Our well-being is directly related to how much social time we get each day. Studies show that 5-6 hours per day provides the peak amount of well-being.
- Our entire community impacts our well-being. The friends of my friends and the colleagues of my colleagues can measurably impact how I feel each day.
In other words, the people in our lives make our lives worth living and also help us to live a good life. The opposite is also potentially true.
Therefore, is your attention, energy and priorities where they should be?
