It’s Never Too Late for a Good Life!
3 WAYS TO DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
KEEP IN CONTACT. You can’t become closer to someone you never see, so the easiest way to deepen your relationships is to see people more often. If you have a friend you don’t talk to as much as you’d like, ask them to set a standing coffee date every Saturday or even just once a month. By seeing someone more, you’re more likely to form a deeper connection and become closer over time. But what Waldinger emphasizes is this won’t always happen on its own, so don’t be afraid to ask your friends to meet up more often! OPEN UP. Another way to nourish your relationships is to open yourself up to the other person. You don’t have to share your deepest secrets right off the bat, but try to be vulnerable a little more with the ones you care about. Next time someone asks, “How are you?” when you meet up, don’t lie and say “good” when you’re not. It’s okay to lean on a friend if you’re going through a tough time! This will result in you and your friend wanting to spend more time together because of the support and relief you feel from the relationship. BE PRESENT WHEN WITH YOUR FRIENDS. We’ve all been there: A friend is talking to us about something, but we’re miles away, lost in thought. While this happens to everyone and is normal, try not to make it a habit. Waldinger says that by really making an effort to be present with your loved ones, you can make a deeper connection and have a more fulfilling relationship.
Robert Waldinger, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, may have cracked the code on what constitutes a “good life.” Yes, he says eating healthy and avoiding cigarettes matter, but what is more important is actually nurturing your relationships with others, especially when aging. And if you think it’s too late for a good life, Waldinger disagrees. According to him, you are never too old to have a good life, and there are many things everyone can do to deepen their relationships and bring joy into their lives. So, if the relationships we have in our life hold the key to happiness, how do we even go about boosting them?
A 3–5-Year Strategy
Could Help NEW BUSINESS VENTURE ANXIETY
I have read dozens of books and articles about long-term planning and goal setting, and I am a big believer in both concepts. I honestly believe they work and have seen them work for me. I was recently working with a friend who was changing businesses and starting a new one. They were concerned about making a long-term commitment, the money they were investing, setting up the new office, hiring employees, signing a lease on office space, and the other items that accompany this type of new venture. They were so concerned, as a matter of fact, that they were worrying themselves sick. Now keep in mind that this individual is talented and experienced enough to know how to do the things I have mentioned, but
the new business venture — as a permanent change in their life. They believed the new business would be their permanent career for the rest of their lives. What a bizarre and crazy thought.
To begin with, nothing in this life is permanent. It is all temporary, and change is the only thing in life that is certain.
Having recognized this issue with my friend, I gave them the same advice I’ve given myself for years and have given to clients and friends in the past. And that’s when entering a new business venture or buying a business, you should have plans and goals, but those plans and goals should be based on a 3–5-year period. And at the end of those 3–5 years, you should take the time to sit down and ask yourself pertinent questions like: Am I enjoying what I have been doing? Has this venture been as profitable as I thought it would be? Does the future look like things will be getting better or worse? Do I want to continue doing what I am, or is it time for a change? By looking at new ventures with a 3–5-year period, you allow yourself to think freely, and you’ll have more vigor and excitement toward the business, knowing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Can you
they were still in a tizzy about this new venture.
After talking with them for a while, the problem causing all their anxiety became clear. They were concerned about making this commitment because of how they looked at
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