We are social creatures who want interpersonal interactions, whether we like it or not. It is ingrained into our brains because we need to work together to secure our species’ existence. To make this happen, we must all work together.
It seems to reason, then, that making and keeping those ties has an inherent reward built-in. On the other hand, if we spend too much time isolated and alone, we begin to feel unhappy and depressed, and if the isolation lasts too long, we could go insane.
And it is our interaction with other people that offer us enjoyment more than anything else. It isn’t the amount of money we make or have in our bank accounts. It’s not the big house, the flashy cars, or all the goods we’ve collected over the years. Spending time and sharing experiences with others makes us joyful.
Of course, not everyone in our lives makes us happy. We all have to deal with individuals we don’t particularly want to spend time with. We do it because we are working on a project together at work, because they are our neighbors, or because they happen to work out at the gym next to us.
Some people we have mixed feelings towards, while others we would rather not spend time with if we had the option. However, there are still advantages to these connections. When we collaborate, we work well together, challenge each other, and become better people and contributors to society as a whole. This has its own set of benefits.
On the other side, when we are with people we care about, and like their company, we derive a great deal of joy, satisfaction, and happiness from those encounters. We have evolved into creatures who seek mental, social, and physical interactions. There’s a reason why practically everyone values a genuine hug.
Spending time with individuals who love and encourage us, as well as those who challenge us and push us to do more, helps us grow as people. When we have cheerleaders and mentors around us, we improve. There’s a reason why people say you’re or will become the average of the five individuals you spend the most time with.
Choose those around you wisely if you want to grow as a person, and if happiness is your objective, spend as much time as possible with pleasant, positive individuals.
Above all, be certain that you maintain crucial intimate relationships with family and friends. Those relationships will increase your happiness and make you feel like you’re a part of something bigger than gives your life meaning.
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