Positive Relationships
Magis Musing #8: Relationships are so important. Yet they can be challenging. When reflecting on the content from this week, what stood out for you?
Reflecting on this week’s discussion on family influences, relationships, and loneliness, certain aspects that stood out to me were the TEDTalk about the study on happiness, statistics regarding loneliness in America, and how to work through challenges in relationships. Observing the CIGNA 2018 U.S. Loneliness Index, I was shocked to find that Generation Z is the loneliest generation and claims to be in worse health than older generations. Nearly half of Americans report sometimes or always feeling alone (46%) or left out (47%). I believe social media contributes to the increase in loneliness in our generation because, in our modern-day world, we are more prone to communication errors due to social media platforms that have reduced the amount of face to face interaction. People who report being less lonely are more likely to have regular, meaningful, in-person interactions, be in good overall physical and mental health, and have found a balance in their daily activities, including getting the right amount of sleep, socialization, and work/life balance. Speaking for myself, I prefer to call my friends rather than text them because oftentimes texting leads to miscommunication. Going on a run with my friends, studying in the library with my classmates, and face-timing my family members have allowed me to increase interacting with people in person and build stronger relationships.
Another aspect of relationships that stood out for me was the importance of the quality of our relationships. With social media platforms such as Instagram or Snapchat, it is so easy to get swept up on how many followers one has or how many days one has a streak with a friend. However, it is not just the number of friends one has or whether one is in a relationship, but rather the quality of the relationship that matters.
Our society also gives us the impression that becoming rich and famous are the things we need to go after to have a good life. However, after watching the TEDTalk on “What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness,” Robert Waldinger’s key lesson from the 75 years study was that good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Relationships are essential to our physical and mental health because people who are more socially connected are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than less connected people. Reflecting on the relationships I have in my life, each one requires effort but also brings much happiness. Connecting back to the first content of the class regarding PERMA, finding positive relationships has brought meaning to my life because knowing that there are people in my life who care about me, I want to do the same for them in return. I was also interested to learn that good relationships do not just protect our bodies but they also protect our brains. More isolated people find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, they experience earlier memory decline, and they ultimately live shorter lives. Ultimately, healthy relationships are essential in helping people flourish and lead more meaningful lives.
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