It is not only our healthy life habits that extend our lifespan, but our friendships too! Yes, deep friendship can help you live longer by benefiting your overall health.
According to the WHO committee with social connections, those who lack social connections may be at a higher risk of early death. Loneliness can also lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Meanwhile, building and fostering friendships and healthy relationships can extend lifespan by improving overall well-being.
The importance of friendship in overall well-being
Having good friends means you have a confidant who can speak up about everything that’s going on in your life. Friends can add value and meaning to your life by helping you get closer to yourself and your purpose in life. It’s like there are people who feel you’re tied up by the tight code of love.
In his book The Laws of Connection, author and BBC journalist David Robson reveals compelling evidence that individuals who enjoy deep social connections tend to have better health compared to isolated people. The science in his book examined the “biopsychosocial” model of health. His research shows that friendship can play a major role in affecting many aspects of our well-being, from strengthening our immune system to improving cardiovascular health.
How can meaningful relationships improve our overall health?
Having meaningful relationships and friendships can have a huge impact on all aspects of life, from emotional happiness to professional success. Strong connections provide emotional support, enhance mental health and create a sense of belonging. All of these contribute to overall happiness and satisfaction in life.
According to clinical psychologist Mimantha Singh Tanwar, some of the ways friendship supports our overall well-being include:
1. Friendship provides emotional support
Meaningful relationships provide a safe space for sharing thoughts, feelings and experiences. This emotional support reduces stress, anxiety, depression and encourages resilience when facing life challenges. Apart from having a romantic connection, having a deep friendship can benefit your emotional health, as there are more people who rely on in times of emotional distress, experts say. In fact, people of all ages can benefit from having all sorts of social connections. A PLOS study on Superagers found that people in the 80s, who were actively involved in social relationships, had better cognitive abilities.
2. Improve your mental health
Intimate friendships and relationships contribute to improving mental health. Engaging in regular, meaningful interactions can improve your mood, increase your self-esteem and reduce the risk of mental health problems. Your wealthy friend, your friend, can make you believe in your strengths and abilities and take you out of the dark space by being there for you during difficult times.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, loneliness is not the result of being alone, but the result of living without a clear necessary set of relationships or relationships. Loneliness can cause mental health issues such as depression, personality disorders, sleep disorders, and alcohol use, which can contribute to physical health issues. So, deep connections can protect you from mental health disorders.
3. happiness
You will share good times with your loved ones by creating happy moments with them. When you are making memories with the right person, happiness can be found in the simplest of things. Good friends will increase your happiness and improve the overall quality of your life.
4. Physical health
Positive relationships are associated with improved physical health. They can encourage healthy behaviors such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, boost the immune system and even promote lifespan. Building good habits with friends can help you maintain these habits for longer and lead to better physical health.
5. Professional success
Strong relationships often extend to the professional realm, providing networking opportunities, mentoring and collaboration. Trust and mutual respect in professional relationships can lead to career progression and job satisfaction, experts say.
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6. A sense of belonging
Feeling connected to others creates a sense of belonging and purpose. This improves your overall sense of identity and provides a foundation for stability and security. When we feel deeply connected and in line with others, we tend to be a better version of ourselves as our friends can inspire a positive change in our lives. For example, a friend’s decision to quit smoking directly affects you in order to make healthier choices.
According to the Springer Journal, high-quality friendships are primarily characterized by support, intimacy and reciprocity. According to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, there is a positive relationship between social relationships and self-esteem. So, friendship increases your self-esteem, which leads to better physical and mental health.
How to build deep friendships?
In today’s age, it is even more important to promote deeper connections across virtual world boundaries, as well as the need to establish a strong social support system.
Here are some ways you can strengthen your friendship:
1. Make a proactive effort
If you like someone’s company, make the first move to start a friendship. Put your ego aside and reach out to your family, friends, peers, colleagues and mentors to connect. Support systems require proactive efforts to establish and maintain professionals.
2. It exists
Especially in today’s world of social media and digitalization, being in the presence of others doesn’t necessarily mean that we are participating in the conversation at hand! Keep the distraction to a minimum and be aware that it actually exists. Be an active listener and provide feedback and feedback if necessary.
3. Explicit and communication
Depending on the nature of your relationship with the individual, try to express your emotions and thoughts rather than bottle them. Experts suggest that each individual is taking advantage of the opportunity to remain a real version of himself, even if he doesn’t become your true confidant.
4. Please listen proactively
Building a support system does not just mean unidirectional relationships. As you reach out to support, it is also important that you become a support system for others around you. Effective communication requires being able to listen actively without judgment.
