When you feel happy on the inside, you can experience happiness in your relationships. However, it’s important to focus on personal healing before entering a relationship.

The lesson from dozens of studies and the Harvard Study of Adult Development is that healthy relationships are key to happiness. Here are nine ways your happiness could be impacted by changes in your relationship: 1. A more satisfying social network.

1. Increased self-esteem

Studies suggest that our self-esteem plays an important role in our happiness. Research has shown that self-esteem correlates with both happiness and life satisfaction.

People with high self-esteem have a strong sense of inner worth and can easily recognize their positive qualities. They also have a greater capacity to be happy in the face of adversity or challenges.

One way to boost your self-esteem is to practice positive affirmations. Another helpful strategy is to make a list of the qualities you value about yourself. Then, choose one quality to focus on and practice it daily. It is also helpful to keep a journal of your successes and accomplishments. You can also seek out professional help to improve your self-esteem. Programs such as mentorships and school-based support have been proven to increase self-esteem and reduce depression, bullying behaviors, and relationship difficulties. BetterHelp is a great option for obtaining online professional help from the comfort of your home or office.

2. Increased confidence

Happiness is a complex trait that can have many influences on your life. But there is one thing that can have a big impact on your happiness: confidence.

Studies have shown that confident people are also happier. So if you want to boost your happiness, it’s worth trying to become more confident.

Having self-confidence can help you feel more empowered in your personal and professional lives. And it can even lead to a better relationship with yourself and others.

One way to increase your confidence is by choosing content that inspires and uplifts you. Avoid watching or reading anything that depresses you. Instead, choose content that makes you laugh or encourages you to be a more positive person. Similarly, try listening to music that makes you happy or spending time with friends who lift your spirits. These actions can all make you feel more confident. Research has found that the combination of mood and workability explains 68% of people’s overall subjective well-being.

3. Better relationships with family and friends

Having healthy relationships with family and friends can have a major impact on your happiness. Researchers have found that happy people tend to have satisfying social connections. However, it’s important to remember that not all relationships are equal. Some relationships can hurt your health. For example, a toxic relationship can hurt your immune system, which can cause you to get sick more often and make you feel depressed.

The key is to find a good balance between your personal life and your professional life. This means spending time with your loved ones while also pursuing your career goals. It’s also important to maintain a positive attitude and focus on the things that are making you happy. This could be as simple as taking your partner out for dinner or laughing together at a funny movie. By focusing on the positive, you can improve your happiness and live a longer, healthier life.

4. Better health

A healthy and loving relationship doesn’t just boost your happiness; it may improve your physical health, too. Studies show that those in satisfying relationships are less likely to suffer from health issues such as heart disease, according to a study from 2019. A happy and healthy relationship can also promote healthy behaviors, like eating well and getting enough sleep. And it can encourage positive mental health habits, such as opening up about feelings and resolving conflicts productively.

Researchers found that overall negative relationships with a person, such as a spouse or partner, were predictive of high blood pressure and stress levels, as well as poorer coping. They also observed that people who reported the most daily ping-ponging between being in a positive and negative relationship had higher negative variability in their day-to-day experiences with their closest relationship.

If you find yourself in a toxic relationship, it’s important to take steps toward finding a new one. Therapy modalities such as EMDR and neurofeedback can help release the negative self-beliefs that often lead to unhealthy relationships.

5. Better relationships with co-workers

You spend the majority of your waking hours with the people you work with, so it should come as no surprise that these relationships can impact your happiness at work. Having close friendships with co-workers can increase job satisfaction while having negative relationships at work can deplete energy and create stress.

A happy workforce has a positive effect on the company, which is why it’s important to make sure that employees feel supported by their co-workers. When co-workers get along and enjoy each other’s company, it’s much easier to bond with them, which can lead to more productive teams.

A good relationship with a manager can also make all the difference. If you don’t get along with your boss, it can affect how you perform in meetings and how well you engage with the rest of the team. Try to avoid judging people based on how they dress or their appearance, as that can quickly turn into an annoyance and hinder your relationship.

6. Better relationships with children

Children learn from their parents, and a healthy relationship sends strong positive messages to kids. Studies show that kids whose parents express affection have higher self-esteem, better academic performance, and are more likely to treat others with kindness and respect.

Sibling relationships can also be impacted by parental happiness. Studies show that when siblings have a good relationship, they tend to be healthier and happier as adults. But when sibling relationships are poor, they can be less happy, causing them to struggle with depression.

Many parents feel that their children are their pride and joy. However, research shows that having children does not automatically make parents happy. It depends on a variety of factors, including age and financial difficulties. In particular, fathers ages 35 to 49 experience a greater happiness gain from having children than men younger than that age. Similarly, more money does not necessarily make people happier, but it can help alleviate some of the stress from raising children.

7. Better relationships with pets

Many people consider their pets to be a part of the family, and it is common to see these relationships between humans and animals reflected in other family and friendship dynamics. Having a pet requires a shared responsibility that forces you to work as a team, and it can also teach children empathy and compassion.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between pet ownership and happiness, introversion/extraversion, and androgyny. To do so, the researcher formulated hypotheses based on popular culture indicators and reviewed relevant literature on personality and pets. He then adapted three scales—the Subjective Happiness Scale, Big 5 Inventory, and Stanford Androgyny Personality Test—for use in the study.

One of the hypotheses is that the type of pet you own correlates with your personality. In other words, if you are an extrovert and like to hang out with friends and family, you will likely prefer a more social dog.

8. Better relationships with nature

Just like any relationship, it can take work to maintain a positive connection with nature. But as we learn more about how nature and happiness are connected, the rewards can be worth it.

A meta-analysis found that people who are more nature-connected have greater eudaimonic well-being—which includes a sense of purpose and meaning in life. It is the highest level of happiness that isn’t related to material wealth or status.

Interestingly, it was not the type of happiness or the measure of nature connectedness that was the best predictor of the association; rather, it was how it was measured and defined. For example, the definition of nature included any place that provides a natural resource or experience such as trees, lakes, rivers, beaches, and mountains.

Other moderators examined in the study included publication status, year, gender, age, type of happiness, and the measure of nature connectedness. Results indicated that publication status acted as a moderator to account for possible reporting bias; however, other moderators such as age and gender were not significant.

9. Better relationships with God

Just as your relationship with a significant other requires communication and quiet time to strengthen, so too does your relationship with God. This can include reading scripture, praying regularly, and spending time in silence with him. It may not be exciting or feel like a spiritual high but this is necessary for a healthy and mature relationship.

When you have a close relationship with someone, they know what’s in your heart and mind even when you don’t say it out loud. So, too, does your relationship with God – so be sure to pray honestly and don’t hold back!

Strengthen your spiritual relationship by avoiding idolatry, adultery, lust, drunkenness, and gluttony. You can also strengthen your relationship by practicing righteousness (doing what is morally right and just). In this way, you will be blessed and you will see more of God’s goodness in your life. Ultimately, you will become more happy!