Friendship as key to happiness

According to Florence Servan-Schreiber, a specialist in positive psychology, the strength of a relationship depends on several essential ingredients. Social relations are essential to personal development, and the largest study ever conducted on happiness, carried out by Harvard University over nearly 85 years, shows that the quality of our relationships with others constitutes one of the main factors of a happy life.

Curiosity strengthens friendships

Among the essential ingredients for a solid friendship, the specialist highlights the importance of curiosity: "This is expressed by genuinely being interested in what the other person is doing and being able to initiate things without assuming systematic reciprocity." This quality is cultivated especially by asking questions, practicing active listening, and being available for friends.

Rituals build lasting bonds

According to the specialist, certain rituals can also strengthen friendship bonds, such as a weekly lunch with a friend or a shared activity. The goal is to inscribe the relationship in the long term and give it more depth: "We attach ourselves to what we see, so the more we expose ourselves to our friends, the more we attach ourselves. There is therefore something of the order of maintaining the relationship."

Initiative preserves relationships

To preserve these relationships, it is essential to show initiative. "It is not always necessary to wait for others to take the initiative to call or propose an activity," continues the specialist.

Friendship and health benefits

Beyond the emotional support it provides, a high-quality friendship can also have beneficial effects on health. According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, maintaining contact with others would increase the chances of survival for a woman diagnosed with breast cancer: "Women who were socially isolated before diagnosis had a 66% increased risk of all-cause mortality and twice the risk of breast cancer mortality compared to women who were socially integrated," reports the study.

Asking for help strengthens bonds

Finally, daring to ask for help would be one of the most effective ways to strengthen a friendship, as the expert specifies: "We love asking for help because we feel we exist in the eyes of the other."