31 JUL 2011 by ideonexus
Friendships are the Best Predictor of Happiness
“The only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.” After nearly 75 years, the only consistent finding comes right out of It’s a Wonderful Life. Successful friendships, the messy bridges that connect friends and family, are what predict people’s happiness as they hurtle through life. Friendships are a better predictor than any other single variable. By the time a person reaches middle age, they are the only predictor. Says Jonatha...Having strong social bonds and the opportunities for altruistic acts are a strong predictor of lifelong fulfillment.