In his TED Talk, Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst at Harvard University, makes the claim that good relationships are they key to living a longer, happier, and healthier life. Myself and other listeners can verify his statements. After all, this is an age old belief. Society has always believed that surrounding yourself with friends can make you happy, an idea that is commonplace in general discussion and in the media; in fact, one of my favorite video game series involves forming close relationships and spending time with friends. This information comes from a generation-long survey of individuals from across the nation. After decades of sample and analysis, Waldinger asserts good relationships are both emotionally AND physically healthier, and conversely, loneliness is extremely toxic. To add evidence to his claims, Waldinger then reports his study, stating that individuals in healthy relationships are not only more satisfied with their own lives, but retain their memories and mobility over time. In return, years of loneliness and depression damaged the emotions and the brain, making remembering moments harder and impacting physical health. In order to live life to the fullest, and keep oneself happy as they go through life, one must “form relationships with family, friends, and community”.
I agree with Robert that good relationships are they key to living a longer, happier, and healthier life.
The structure shows a summary of Robert’s TED Talk.
What happens if your life is bad right now and how can you change?
I agree wholeheartedly with Robert Waldinger. He is surely correct, as his own research supports his claims. Waldinger is the head of a research team running for over 75 years dedicated to observing and analyzing the lives of individuals, with an emphasis on events that could cause major long-term physical or mental change. The results? Waldinger and his team discovered good relationships can be one of the biggest enhancers of ones lifespan. He goes on to cite three “big lessons” to a longer life gained in the study that could help other people. Waldinger begins his analysis by stating “The first is that social connections are really good for us, and that loneliness kills” (Waldinger). He then continues on, and discusses the neurological effects of this concept. Waldinger compares the lifespans of the two described groups in his study, stating “brain functioning declines sooner and they [lonely people] live shorter lives than people who are not lonely. There is tangible biological evidence that supports This study’s claim, and directly proves the notion that more high quality relationships lead to a longer life. Robert Waldinger’s TED talk is one that should be shown to anyone looking to change their lives, and certainly is a speech to remember.