What Contributes to a Happy and Fulfilling life? And how can Vulnerability be the superpower that helps you achieve that?

in Happiness on Share
transformational coaching, embracing vulnerabilities

In  the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which is one of the longest-running studies of adult life and originally started in 1938. Initially, it focused exclusively on men. Later, the study expanded to include women and spouses of the original participants, as well as their children.

The Main Findings of the Study are:​

  1. Good Relationships Keep Us Happier and Healthier:

 The study’s most significant finding is that the quality of our relationships strongly impacts our happiness and physical health. Close, supportive relationships, not wealth or fame, are the key to long-term well-being.

  1. Loneliness is Harmful:

Loneliness and social isolation are correlated with declining mental and physical health. People who are more socially connected are happier, physically healthier, and live longer.

  1. Quality Over Quantity in Relationships: 

 It’s not the number of relationships but the quality that matters. Having meaningful, close connections provides greater benefits to both mental and physical health.

  1. Stable, Warm Marriages:

Those in stable, loving marriages experience better mental health and are less likely to experience chronic illnesses as they age. However, staying in conflict-heavy marriages can be detrimental to both mental and physical health.

This landmark study has continued to evolve and expand, offering valuable insights into human well-being and the factors that contribute to a fulfilling life.

So what is the Role that vulnerability can play in our happiness and fulfillment?

We now know based on scientific research and the cumulative experience of many coaches that the quality of our life is determined by the quality of our relationships.

Vulnerability in particular, helps us have better relationships by enabling us to have better connections.

If you are ready to open up and share with other people, this will make them more likely to open up and share with you too.

This will lead to stronger and more authentic connections.

Authentic connections lead to warmer and supportive relationships. 

Here are few tips to leverage the power of your vulnerability to your advantage:

  1. Start small, share about little things first that are not so much out of your comfort zone, and gradually move to sharing about more important things.
  2. Be honest, do not make up things to sound interesting and do not try to manipulate people.
  3. Take it step by step, trust is built gradually and over time.Also, do not ignore the red flags when you see them in people’s behavior and listen to your gut-feeling or intuition.

In conclusion, by allowing yourself to be more vulnerable, you will set yourself for success in establishing deeper and more authentic connections. These authentic connections will lead over time to better quality and supportive relationships, which are key to your happiness, fulfillment, and physical and mental wellbeing.

If you would like to explore how vulnerability can be your superpower in building fulfilling relationships and a happier life, feel free to contact me for personalized coaching and guidance.