Why are other people important?

Have you ever thought why other people matter? Have you ever wondered why we need them or why we want to communicate, interact? Do you think the reason for the bond you establish with people is a possible fear of loneliness, the desire to socialize, love or all of them? Do you remember the 75-year-old happiness research conducted at Harvard University on this subject, which has been the subject of curiosity of many researchers and various scientific articles have been written on it? The research reveals the secret of a happy life and shows that the most important determinant of good aging—that is, maintaining physical, mental and mental health and maintaining life satisfaction even in the 70s—is neither cholesterol level, endurance on the treadmill, money earned, nor intelligence level. According to the study, the most important factor is our close relationships with people. The research is summed up in this simple sentence: “The most important thing in your life is your relationships with other people.” However, this is not all about why other people are important to us. Many studies point out that our relationships with other people are of great importance for physical and mental health and personal growth, as well as happiness in life.

Chris Peterson, one of the founders of the science of positive psychology, also conducts many researches on this subject and continues his studies by focusing on our social relations, which make our lives valuable until we die, add meaning to every moment and make us whole. Peterson's work points out that we can make activities that can be done alone more enjoyable when we do them with other people. In addition, his works also show that emotions such as gratitude and appreciation arise as a result of our relationships with other people. On the other hand, many different studies have asked “Why are other people important?” It sheds light on the question from different angles. Here's why our relationships with other people are important and what they add to our lives:

Being with other people improves your health

Many studies point out that not spending time with other people, that is, lack of social networks, is a major source of stress; Loneliness causes the level of cortisol, which is the stress hormone, to increase and therefore causes various diseases to occur. Spending time with people and giving importance to social relations helps to improve both mental and physical health. A study from the 70s points out that people with weaker social networks die younger than people with larger social networks. Therefore, spending time with other people is essential to improve holistic health.

Improves your brain functions

There is a lot of research showing that our brains actually work better when we interact with others and live together. A 2015 study notes that social interaction is among the most complex functions humans perform. Also, another study on child development states that children learn better when they interact with others rather than just observing. As can be understood from this result, social relations from a young age support brain development.

Sociality is one of the basic needs of being human

Psychology draws attention to the natural need to be social in human nature, to belong to a place, to a group. Many studies show that people continue to establish social bonds and maintain existing relationships, regardless of the circumstances, rather than being alone. Most people avoid breaking their ties despite negative situations.

It enriches your perspective

"Thousands known career consulting someone who knows." You must have heard the word. Exchanging ideas and learning the thoughts of the people around you can both change your approach to a specific issue and enrich your worldview. Finding people around you that you can get ideas from and joining groups where you can discuss different topics can help you deepen your perspective.

Supports your personal development

Your friends who share your troubles, your family who always stands behind you, your partner with whom you have a pleasant time… What about your colleague whom you could not meet on a common ground, or your manager who only contacted you to criticize? Negative relationships can also produce positive results, even if you don't realize it. Your problem-solving skills, coping with criticism, learning to struggle by experiencing different emotions, all of which you think are bad relationships actually contribute to your life.

While the people around you are important to you, you are also important to them

Just as other people are important to you and your life, you are of great importance to those people. The lives of your family, friends, and friends all gain more meaning with your presence, just as they make your life meaningful… Your loved ones who want to share their problems, need to talk, be understood, have fun with you and have a pleasant time do not contact you immediately to experience their troubles or happiness. does it? Doesn't a call, a text, or a pop-up come from the need for a tight hug? Doesn't even a cup of coffee become more valuable when drunk together? 🙂