Exercises from The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Study of Happiness on evaluating our relationships.
Take a look at the relationships on the energizing side of your social universe and consider how you might solidify or encourage what’s great about them. Tell (and show!) those people how much you appreciate them, and why. It never hurts to double down on what’s already bringing energy and vitality into your life1
Next, take a look at those relationships that are just peeking over that energizing line, or are maybe a little bit depleting on balance. Is there a way you can give these relationships a nudge, and make them more energizing? Minor changes in these relationships can sometimes relieve small burdens that have been adding up1
Maybe this other relationship is depleting but important and needs some special attention.1
Evaluating Energy & Frequency
Is this relationship…
| Energizing & Infrequent | Energizing & Frequent |
|---|---|
| Depleting & Infrequent | Depleting & Frequent |
Evaluating support received & offered
SOURCES OF SUPPORT IN MY LIFE for…
- Safety and Security
- Learning and Growth
- Emotional Closeness and Confiding
- Identity Affirmation and Shared Experience
- Romantic Intimacy
- Help (Both Info and Practical)
- Fun and Relaxation
PEOPLE I SUPPORT in…
- Safety and Security
- Learning and Growth
- Emotional Closeness and Confiding
- Identity Affirmation and Shared Experience
- Romantic Intimacy
- Help (Both Info and Practical)
- Fun and Relaxation
What areas are well-supported vs. lacking support?
Footnotes
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Waldinger, Robert J. and Marc S. Schulz. The Good Life: Lessons From the World’s Longest Study of Happiness, 2023. ↩ ↩2 ↩3