Since antiquity, we have known that friendship and companionship have been essential ingredients for human health and happiness. Humans are intensely social creatures – In fact, research has shown that the quality of our relationships is a better predictor of health and longevity than our biological makeup. So it’s imperative to build and nurture the relationships in your life.

In the past, most people lived in small, tight-knit communities where they knew the people around them. Finding friends was easy, and you could reliably build a social network in your own neighborhood. However, our modern society is far less friendly, and it’s much harder to build deep, meaningful relationships. Our social circles are often huge, and we don’t get to know the people in our lives on a personal level. If you live in a big city, it’s likely that you don’t even know your neighbors. We don’t have the same sense of community that we used to have, and it’s detrimental to our health.

We’re social animals, and we need other people. We need to know that there are people we can turn to for help, friendship, and support. Without our social connections, we can become isolated, depressed, and unhappy.

Social connection and happiness

A growing body of research is showing that loneliness is a major predictor of depression and unhappiness. In fact, loneliness and social isolation are considered to be just as dangerous to health as smoking or obesity.

In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Brigham Young University examined the health of more than 200,000 people over the age of 50. They found that social isolation and loneliness increased the risk of premature death by 26%, compared to those who had strong social connections. The same study found that strong social connections improved the chances of survival by 50%. So it’s clear that social connections have a huge impact on our physical health, in addition to mental health.

Another study by researchers at the University of Chicago found that lacking close relationships is a stronger predictor of depression than low income. They found that the most depressed people in their study were the ones who had moved into a new city, which forced them to leave their existing social connections behind.

These studies demonstrate the importance of building and maintaining social connections. It’s not enough to have a large number of Facebook friends and acquaintances. You need to have a smaller, more intimate circle of friends and family that you can rely on, and who care about you.

The curse of technology

We‘re in the middle of a technological revolution, and technology is changing our lives in many ways. Technology has revolutionized our social lives, making it easier for us to connect with people around the world. However, technology is also making it easier to isolate ourselves from the people around us. It‘s easier than ever to avoid social interaction.

When you‘re feeling lonely, you can always use your phone to distract yourself from your problems. You can play a quick game, watch some funny videos, or check your social media feed. You can be alone and in the company of others at the same time. Technology has made it easier than ever to disconnect from the people around us. However, it‘s still vital to maintain healthy relationships with other people. It‘s important to have a few people in your life that you can rely on, and who can count on you when you need them.

Don’t neglect face-to-face interactions – these provide benefits to physical and mental health that social media and online gaming will never be able to match.

Taking positive steps

If you don’t have these relationships, it’s important to build them. Here are some tips:

• Find a hobby or activity that involves other people
• Join a Meetup group or take an online course
• Volunteer with an organization that you care about
• Reach out to old friends you haven’t talked to in a while

No matter what stage of life you are in, your socioeconomic status or political affiliation, there are people like you out there to connect with. From motorcycle repair clubs to 55+ communities, there’s really something for everyone – it’s just a matter of making it a priority in your life and stepping out of your comfort zone. And remember – the more people you reach out to, the better your chances of finding someone who you click with.

The importance of friendship for mental health is something we should never take for granted. We need to build strong, meaningful relationships in order to be happy and healthy. The good news is that it’s never too late to reach out to someone and get to know them. It takes a bit of courage, but it will be worth it in the end.