What makes you happy?

Whatup fam,

I am happiest and healthiest when I _____________.

Over the past 75 years there has been a research study ongoing looking at what makes people the happiest and healthiest version of themselves.

📍75 years ago a group of 2,000 men were interviewed and overall they thought the most important thing for their happiness was to get rich.

75 years later the study was repeated on millennials and you guessed it!

80% of them also believed getting rich was the most important contributor to their overall happiness in life.

Working with some many clients over the years this doesn’t come as a surprise to me..

The main thing clients want to work on is making more money (especially when they don’t have “enough” of it.)

The interesting thing about this 75 year study is that the researchers found that the greatest predictor of happiness and health was deeply fulfilling relationships.

Regardless of how much we try to self isolate through the use of technology our biology craves connection above all else.

We saw this play out during the pandemic when so many people were isolated, which contributed to record high drug overdoses and suicides.

Connection to community, to a partner, to family or to a friend group is in fact our best shot at living happy and healthy life. 👈

I think that when many of us hear this we instinctively know this to be true, but nonetheless we prioritize things like climbing the social ladder and making more money over our most meaningful relationships.

As like many things I see a third path emerge here.

What if we could align our unique gifts with a community where we are supporting them and they are supporting us?

What if our work wasn’t just something we did, but actually a container that fed our need for deep social connection?

That is what I am striving towards with the work I’m doing through the owned.

I consider my clients and community to be an extension of my family.

As a matter of fact one of my clients and friends actually shared this research study with me and this video explaining it.

Anyhow, my hope for you is that you step back from the hustle for a moment to reflect on the relationships in your life.

👉 Who do you want to spend more time with?

👉 What relationships are no longer serving you?

👉 What type of people would you like to meet and spend more time with?

👉 In what what ways do you like to spend time with people that make you feel the happiest?

The past couple of years I have really prioritized my relationships and have gotten closer to my parents, doubled down on my own family with my wife and daughter, started thinking about my coaching clients as 40 year relationships and have cultivated a brotherhood of men that I trust wholeheartedly.

The investments in those relationships far surpasses any of my achievements in the physical world, because they make me feel held in a container of love and connection.

I trust many of you are doing the same and if not, this study is a cool affirmation to how we can create more health and happiness in our lives.

As always, I got a new meditation for you this week.

Meditation to build new habits

Check it out on YouTube or in my mobile app.

Lots of love,

Brandon