Are Friends the Key to Happiness and Health?

It's commonly believed that people with friends are happier and more cheerful, but is there scientific proof? Now there is. Researchers at the University of Auckland in the USA have proven that individuals with high-quality social engagement are healthier and happier over time.

The study followed 4,000 people over three weeks, fully documenting their blood pressure, heart rate, and mental stress levels, and was published in a respected medical journal. The researchers found that positive social experiences influence a person's stress levels and coping ability, as well as their physical health. "Positive and negative experiences in our relationships affect our daily stress and physiology," says Don Bryan, the study's founder.

The results are not surprising, given that similar studies have been conducted in the past. However, it's interesting to see how human relationships impact specific aspects of physical health, like blood pressure.

While the research can't definitively prove that good relationships cause better health, it indicates a strong connection between physical well-being and quality social connections. This can be viewed from the opposite perspective as well: people in better health often have better relationships because they experience less pain, making it easier to communicate.

What If I Don't Have Friends?

What can people do if they don't have a wide network of friends and acquaintances?

Adam Poswolsky, author of "Friendship in the Time of Loneliness," suggests: "Just start small. Send a message to a friend you haven't spoken to in a while," he adds, "or make a list of five people you care about and call one of them – the most amazing friendships begin in small moments of connection."

According to him, meetings with friends should be regular, or else they won't happen. "In our busy world, we need to put our friendships on the calendar," says Poswolsky, "and commit to recurring activities."

And what does the Torah say about it?

"Either friendship or death" (Taanit 23) - even the sacred Torah highly values human friendships as a condition for a good and meaningful life. Obviously, a good friend is someone who makes you smile on a gloomy day and helps you in times of trouble, but not only that. According to the Torah, a good friend is one who elevates you spiritually, and not the other way around. The wisdom lies in finding a person who combines all these elements: someone who makes you laugh and smile and, of course, helps you maintain a life of faith and holiness.