🩷 Social System
Strong social ties are the #1 predictor of happiness and longevity (Waldinger & Schulz, 2023). Stronger than wealth, career, or health metrics. You can’t outsource this.
Why This Matters
The Harvard Grant Study, the longest study of adult life ever conducted, found one clear conclusion: Good relationships keep us happier and healthier (Waldinger & Schulz, 2023). Period.
Loneliness is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). Yet modern life systematically erodes social connection: remote work, social media substitutes, busy schedules.
The reality: Relationships don’t maintain themselves. Adults must be intentional about connection (Hall, 2018). The people who thrive are proactive initiators, not passive waiters.
Where to Start
Relationships drifting? Read Dunbar’s Number to understand your cognitive limits, then prioritize ruthlessly.
Want a system? Implement Friendship Maintenance to prevent decay.
Concepts
- Dunbar’s Number: Your brain can maintain ~5 intimate, ~15 close, ~50 friends, ~150 acquaintances
- Loneliness Epidemic: Modern isolation as public health crisis
- Weak Ties vs Strong Ties: Weak ties get you jobs, strong ties get you through crises
- Social Capital: Your network as an asset class
- Reciprocity Principle: Give first to build trust
- Introvert vs Extrovert: Energy management, not social skill
Protocols
- Maintain Friendships: Weekly • High impact • ✅ Start here
- Build New Friendships: Ongoing • High impact • ✅ Start here
- Host Gatherings: Monthly • High impact
- Network Strategically: Ongoing • Medium impact
- Navigate Conflict: As needed • High impact
- Set Boundaries: Ongoing • High impact
What to Avoid
→ Social Anti-Patterns: Common mistakes that erode connection
How Social Connects to Other Domains
Social connection overlaps significantly with Purpose:
- Relationships: Deep dive into relationship science
- The Giver’s Paradox: Why giving builds connection