The majority of us are raised thinking that we attain happiness. We speculate, “After my graduation I will feel happy. Then it is, when I finally get a good job, I will become happy. Then perhaps, when I get more money or achieve that huge milestone, life will be awesome.
But here’s the funny thing. Some people usually do get to achieve these milestones and still feel like something is missing.
We pursue success, check boxes, and gain successes like the trophies. But the emotion we are really seeking, true happiness, does not necessarily present itself in the manner we thought.
The reason is that happiness hardly flourishes in solitude. It grows in connection.
Think about it. The things that make life really good are usually related to other people. It could be a laughter session with a friend, perhaps it is telling good news to a person who got more excited than you. Or perhaps it is just having someone to sit with you when life gets ugly.
Those little moments? Yeah, those are the real deal. Human beings are not programmed to live solitary lives. The way we feel is highly tied to our surrounding people.
Let’s pause for a second. When did you last really feel happy?
To the majority of humans, their best recollections are of fellow humans. Family get together, random chats with friends, or late night talk where time simply disappears. It turns out that it is not only a coincidence. Even science backs it up too.
Researchers have demonstrated that individuals that remain socially connected are happier and more emotionally stable.
In one study, Ren (2025) investigated the influence of social interaction on happiness with the usage of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. The findings were relatively self-evident: the individuals that socialize more often report greater rates of happiness and emotional well-being.
And here is the most interesting part, face-to-face communication generated more positive feelings of happiness than digital communication.
Texting is nice. Scrolling is fine. However, being at a table with a person, conversing, making jokes, and simply being together feels quite different. Having a fast laugh with a friend can make you feel much happier than spending an hour online.
Happiness is kind of contagious. Have you ever noticed how you feel different when you are with different people? Be around a good person and life becomes even lighter. Be with people who talk a lot of negativity, and you feel low in energy. Social environments can propagate happiness.
Lee and Bae (2022) conducted a study and examined national survey data to explore how social capital affects happiness. They discovered that individuals that live in supportive environments or where neighbors trust and support one another experience greater life happiness.
The research recommends that happiness increases in a place where individuals feel related. When individuals stand by one another, pay attention to one another, and show empathy the whole community feels emotionally healthy.
Friendship is a very powerful concept in deriving our happiness, yet its role is mostly undermined. This is because unlike family, friendships are subject to choice. We choose who we connect with.
Song, Kwon, and Jeon (2023) utilized the statistics of over 229,000 people to describe how relations influence happiness based on different ages. The results demonstrated that a strong degree of contact with friends, family, and even neighbors was a good predictor of happiness. But here’s the real twist. They also found out that friendship becomes importance as people become old.
When young, we are always in a hurry to seek careers, goals and achievements. But as we grow older, relationships gain more importance in giving us emotional satisfaction and fulfillment. At the end of the day, people are what make everything worth living in your life.
Relationships are not just fun moments and celebrations. Because at one point or another, we all experience stress, disappointment, and loss. Life does not always go smoothly. However, when there is a person who listens, comprehends and helps you, such situations can be easier.
A study with adults conducted by Fernandez-Portero et al. (2023) revealed that those who have positive relationships are characterized by better emotional well-being and reduced loneliness. That is, good relationships do not simply make one happier. They preserve our mental health as well. They serve as emotional safety nets during situations in life when there are curve balls.
And let’s be honest. It is important to know that someone is on your side.
There is something to think over before you pass.
When was the last time you called a friend and just checked how they’re doing? When was the last time you experienced a phone-free conversation?
The way to happiness is not always the addition of more things in our life, sometimes it is the strengthening of the ties which we already possess. Even a short conversation or a simple gesture can bring a pleasant difference to someone’s day, and to our own feelings.
These things may seem little, but their role is mighty.
Happiness is represented as the individual endeavor, something that people have to attain by themselves. But the experience of our everyday lives and scientific studies indicate otherwise. Meaningful connections, shared experiences, healthy and supportive relationships are what brings true happiness. When we support each other, when we just show up on behalf of the people we love.
Then perhaps the real question is not: “How can I become happier?” Or Maybe the better question is: “Who am I sharing my life with?” Because sometimes even the most basic moments with the right people can bring the most profound feeling of happiness.
Fernandez-Portero, C., Amian, J. G., Alarcón, D., Arenilla Villalba, M. J., & Sánchez-Medina, J. A. (2023). The effect of social relationships on the well-being and happiness of older adults living alone or with relatives. Healthcare, 11(2), 222. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11020222
Lee, J.-E., & Bae, S.-M. (2022). The relationship between social capital, the happiness of others, and the happiness of Korean adults: A national sample study. Psychiatry Investigation, 19(11), 958–964. https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2022.0050
Ren, C. S. (2025). The impact of in-person and online social interaction on happiness: An empirical study on social connectivity and well-being. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/2025.23015
Song, I., Kwon, J.-W., & Jeon, S. M. (2023). The relative importance of friendship to happiness increases with age. PLOS ONE, 18(7), e0288095. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288095
Waldinger, R. J., & Schulz, M. (2023). The good life: Lessons from the world’s longest scientific study of happiness. Simon & Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Good-Life/Robert-Waldinger/9781982166694
Yes. Research in happiness research and psychology shows that people with strong social connections tend to be happier, more emotionally stable, and less prone to stress and loneliness. Meaningful relationships are a key driver of long-term human flourishing.
Relationships provide emotional support, reduce feelings of isolation, and help individuals cope with stress and challenges. Positive social connections are a core part of emotional wellbeing education and contribute to better mental health.
While individuals can experience moments of happiness alone, long-term and meaningful happiness is strongly linked to social connection. Studies show that shared experiences and relationships play a critical role in sustaining emotional well being.
Friendships are important because they offer emotional support, companionship, and a sense of belonging. Research shows that strong friendships are directly linked to higher life satisfaction and play an increasing role in happiness as people grow older.
Yes. Studies indicate that in-person interactions create stronger emotional connections and higher levels of happiness compared to digital communication such as texting or social media.
Supportive relationships act as emotional buffers during difficult times. Having someone to talk to or rely on helps reduce stress, improve coping ability, and enhance overall emotional wellbeing.
Rekhi Foundation, founded in 2016, promotes Happiness Science via university centers, collaborating globally across six countries.
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