Most people know that having friends is important, but they have no idea how important it really is. Scientists are starting to discover that having friends who care about us is just VITAL. It’s a very good predictor of good health, success, and happiness…
HEALTH
- “You are who you eat with:” a study by Gallup showed that if your best friend has a very healthy diet, you are more than five times as likely to have a very healthy diet yourself.
- It turns out that loneliness is dangerous for your health. Scientists have found that being lonely is more dangerous than air pollution, obesity, or excessive drinking.
SUCCESS
- The people you hang out with influence you so much that you become the average of the five closest friends you have.
- Friends increase the level of will power: people who go through Alcoholics Anonymous or Weight Watchers say that they succeeded thanks to the friendships they’ve built in those groups. This means that if you are going through challenges, having friends with you will make them seem easier.
- Friends also help you directly to get to the next level; for example, researchers have found that around 70% of people find their jobs through personal relationships.