We actually had some wonderfully sunny days here in the past couple of weeks and it has put smiles on a lot of faces. I love the sun to shine when it is mental health awareness week here in the UK. My children have taken an interest in it this year, and I've really enjoyed discussing mental well-being with them, and one of the articles being shared today offers science-supported ways anyone can employ to improve
mental health.
My own mental health has been challenged somewhat recently. A very close loved one of mine is seriously ill currently, and I've been doing all I can to spend as much quality time with that person as possible. I've been making time to really connect and have meaningful conversations and make the most of the time that person has, which doctors say may be around a year at most.
One of the things that it has made me very aware of, is how much we
benefit from close relationships in our lives, how we benefit from connecting with others profoundly and how much of a potent force for good our loving kindness is. It has also made me recognise how much more I want to be this way in my other relationships in life given the impermanence of life and recognising how short it really is.
I do offer a free Loving Kindness focused hypnosis download to all subscribers of this newsletter at this page of my personal website. I've also added an archive article on the topic below today if you'd like to engage in the classic Loving Kindness meditation technique that is supported by science.
Anyway, I'm guessing me mentioning the above might sound a bit morbid to some, but aside from the natural sad aspects of the reality, it's also led to numerous uplifting insights and
the additional connection with that important person in my life has been so healthy for me. The neuroscience and understanding of relational intelligence shows how much we benefit on numerous levels from healthy relationships, quality attachments and friendships. I was teaching as much last weekend on my hypnotherapy diploma course, and there is an entire section about relational intelligence in my Neuroscience for Psychotherapists course.
I was a bit late to the party, but
while out on my dog walks and when on training runs or long journeys, I listen to audio books and I recently caught up with "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness" by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz. It is based on the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which is one of the longest and most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history. The book delves into the findings of this study, which tracked the lives of 724 men over 75 years and has since expanded
to include their spouses and over 1,300 of their children.
The authors explore what constitutes a happy and fulfilling life, drawing on the extensive data collected from the study participants. They emphasise that the quality of our relationships is the most significant predictor of happiness and health. Among others, it makes two really important points that are relevant to what I've been writing here today:
1. Quality Relationships are Crucial for
Happiness:
The study found that the strongest predictor of a long and happy life is not wealth, fame, or working hard, but rather the quality of our relationships. Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives. These ties protect people from life’s discontents, help to delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.
2.
Social Connections and Health:
Loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking or alcoholism. Strong social connections contribute to better mental and physical health, reducing stress and enhancing emotional resilience. People who are more socially connected to family, friends, and their community are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than people who are less well-connected.
"The Good Life" illustrates that nurturing our relationships with family,
friends, and community is a critical component of a fulfilling and healthy life. The book encourages readers to invest time and effort in their relationships, as these connections are fundamental to our happiness and well-being.
One of the articles I'm sharing in this edition of my ezine is all about building stronger connections with people in your life. I'm also sharing a video about the power of a hug according to science as well as another illustrating the importance of
the therapeutic relationship in a clinical setting - that relationship often serves as a basis for patients to be able to build other relationships and the safety created by that relationship helps create optimum conditions for the brain to update and change.
Wherever you are in the world, I hope the sun is shining for you in all manner of ways.
===
And just as a reminder, you are receiving this email because you signed up for this ezine,
downloaded a course prospectus or attended a course at some point in time. If you no longer wish to receive this periodical hypnosis and personal development ezine, you may unsubscribe by clicking the link at the foot of this email. I only want you to receive it each time if you find it of value and you actually read it. Also, we delete you from our distribution if you have not opened these emails for a while.
In compliance with GDPR, the only information that we hold is
your name and email address. We will not share these details with anyone and we will only use them to send you this and related, relevant broadcasts. This broadcast is only sent to people who have signed up with our double opt-in system.
Ok, let's get on with it, shall we?
