Friends can be a great source of happiness, but a new study has found that there are key aspects of friendships that can provide higher levels of joy and feelings of connection, according to an American "Forbes" publication. With the fast-paced nature of today's world, it can be quite challenging to foster friendships as well-being and mental health are sharply declining and feelings of loneliness are at an all-time high. Additionally, some have become increasingly polarized and stressed, meaning that the power of friendships serves as an important safety net to ensure health and happiness.
According to a new study conducted on 40,000 households and published in the journal "Psychological Science," it has been shown that having more diverse friends—differing in age, race, income, or education—leads to greater life satisfaction and a stronger sense of connection. Specifically, when up to 50% of one's friends are different from them, they are less likely to feel anxious, unhappy, or depressed.
Furthermore, having more diverse friends is associated with greater feelings of social cohesion with neighbors. Some expressed a sense of belonging and experienced it in terms of being able to seek advice, borrow things, chat regularly, and work together to improve their communities while committing to staying within the community. Interestingly, a person also needs friends who are similar to them, providing a sense of comfort and intimacy. The ideal point for happiness and social cohesion is having around 50% of friends who are different.
Thus, researchers recommend expanding the circle of happiness by inviting new people into one's friend groups.
#### Finding Sources of Happiness
There are several ways to utilize science to increase the feeling of happiness:
1. **Unfamiliar Groups**
One key way to build relationships with people who are different from oneself is by joining unfamiliar groups. Look for local groups that represent new interests. For example, if someone enjoys painting or sculpting, they might join a knitting group to connect with another artistic side while engaging with people with different interests. If they enjoy hiking, seeking out a kayaking club can provide a new way to utilize their outdoor sports skills. The key is to find something that falls within their range of interests but is also new to them—this is likely to connect them with people they may not have met before.
2. **Work Environment**
Work is one of the primary places where people gain friends—especially their most diverse friends. Seeking out a coworker whom one doesn’t know well and inviting them for coffee can allow for friendship building. One can also volunteer for projects outside their current department. Looking for affinity groups or employee resource groups focused on new experiences can also help. Naturally, joining any sports group that colleagues participate in can offer enjoyment and expand networks. It’s appropriate to connect with coworkers virtually if one is working remotely, or in-person when at the office.
3. **Friends Through Curiosity**
Another way to enhance diverse relationships is to be somewhat curious. When among people, one can start conversations, ask questions, and be curious—within social etiquette—about their experiences and what makes them unique.
4. **Investing Time**
Whether one is building more diverse relationships or working to deepen ties with those who are more alike, it will require effort. Research shows that genuine friendship takes approximately 60 hours to build and requires consistent connections over time.
5. **Old and New Friends**
There is also a sure way to expand a network of all types of friends, which is to be inclusive and invite people to join. For instance, inviting both new and old team members to lunch or directing a newcomer to a book club is beneficial. This approach allows embracing time with familiar people while welcoming newcomers into the group—leveraging their perspectives on diverse aspects.
Additionally, in maintaining communication alongside forging diverse friendships, one should also nurture those familiar to them by staying in touch with people they know well and preserving a mix of old and new friends. According to research, one would ideally want to be with people offering different viewpoints but also those who share their passions, quirks, and eccentricities.
