Social Networks and Happiness

As the world grows more commercial and “modern” one thing that gets hit is one’s connections.  I remember that when we were kids, just going with our Mom to her friend’s place where they would reminisce their childhood or gossip about their in-laws and we would simply be there – bored but still in a different environs.  Or our trips to our cousins’ place would be occassions to meet with our social network.  Admittedly, these were not the most exciting connections but we had connections.  In today’s age and our lives, do us and our kids have similar connections?  With increasing time on internet and around machines, social networks have come as an interesting way to make some connections in place.

Is making connections useful?  Why should we be around people who make us happy?  I was watching a program on Happiness, and one of the research cited came out with the following conclusion:

When you are around a person who is happy then the probability of you being happy increases by 15% and if your friend’s friend is happy then your probability of being happy increases by 10%.  Its only when you reach the 4th degree of separation that your happiness in not affected at all.

The program also discussed a dramatic turn-around of a person who had gotten into drugs and crime when he was a kid and was in and out of Juvenile detention many times.  Until once he got a job and came in touch, through that job, with this surgeon.  This surgeon took him under his wings and helped him come out of all his issues.  An extensive research cited also in the program came to give the following pearl of wisdom:

The key to success from childhood is to create social connections with caring individuals who can mentor and change you even though you may not use them right away.  Having such connections increases your chance to benefit from them when you need them.

Happiness is an important endeavor.  There are many reasons for that and until one can find and access the reservoir of happiness within one’s own self, finding ways to create and maintain connections is an important thing.