What brings a happy life?

Philosophers, clergy, psychologists and researchers of all kinds have offered opinions on this question over the last five decades. Some say wealth, some say religion. Still others say family is the most important thing.

But one factor emerges over and over in study after study as a primary ingredient which must be present in childhood to produce a happy, healthy and well-adjusted adult. That factor is emotional attachment, warmth and care. In a word, love.

This factor was recently studied very specifically by Harvard researchers who wanted to compare the effects of childhood financial wealth with childhood warmth. By following over 200 men (yes, only men) over an extended period of 70+ years, they were able to identify clear patterns. They saw that childhood financial wealth has little to do with adult success, satisfaction and adjustment. And that parental warmth and care throughout childhood is a much more powerful contributor.

Some may wonder, “What’s the big deal? Don’t virtually all parents automatically love their children?”

In my years of practice as a psychologist, I have seen for myself that money is not enough to raise a healthy child. But I’ve also seen that love is not enough. At least not the generic, “I love you because you’re my child” kind of love.

Beyond feeling loved, a child has to feel known. A child has to feel that her parents know her and love her for who she truly is: strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, preferences, foibles and quirks. She must feel that her parents see the real her and know the real her. That’s the only kind of love that feels true and genuine. It’s the only kind of love that produces a child with healthy self-esteem, a strong sense of identity, and resilient self-worth.

One question that I often ask my patients is: “Growing up, did you know that your parents loved you? Or did you feel that your parents loved you?” It’s a vital distinction. Because you can know that someone loves you without actually feeling it. Here are some examples of knowing love vs. feeling it:

Knowing Love:

• A man looks back upon his childhood and can see his parents’ love for him in the fact that they provided him with a good home, nice clothes, plenty of food and a good education.

• A woman knows that her husband loves her because he has stayed married to her for 20 years and has never cheated.

• A child knows that her parents love her because they buy her lots of toys and games and take good care of her.

Feeling Love:

• A man looks back upon his childhood and can feel his parents’ love for him in the memory of his mother comforting him every night for weeks after his beloved hamster died.

• A woman feels that her husband loves her because he noticed that she seemed unhappy lately, and asked her about it with care and concern.

• A child feels that her parents love her because they understand that the reason she got in trouble in school is because she was upset that her friends have been excluding her lately.

Of course, there is no clear line between knowing and feeling. Most people look back upon their childhoods and see some of both. The real question is did you feel it enough? Did you feel that your parents truly “got” you? Did they understand and know you for who you truly are? Do they now?

If the answer is “yes,” then you probably got an excellent foundation for success in your life. You probably know yourself, your own preferences, foibles, weaknesses and strengths. And you probably feel that overall, when you add it all up, it adds up to “good enough.”

If the answer is “perhaps not,” then you probably got some positive things from your childhood. And it certainly helps if you at least had the knowing type of love from your parents. But without enough of the true, genuine kind of feeling love in your childhood, you may struggle in adulthood with self-doubt, self-discipline, self-blame or self-care somewhat more than other people. You may marry someone who, like your parents, does not have the ability to know the real you, and love you for the full and complete picture of who you truly are.
If you suspect that this may be true for you, don’t despair. It’s never too late to provide yourself with what you didn’t get. Following these steps will put you on the road to healing:

1. Acknowledge that despite your parents’ best intentions, they were limited in what they could provide you. There is a reason for your struggles. It’s not your fault.

2. Make it your goal to get to know yourself. Pay attention to yourself in a way that you never have before. Notice your interests, passions, preferences, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. If you can, write down every discovery as you make it.

3. Start paying more attention to your own feelings and emotions. As often as you can, pause and ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now? And why?” Make an effort to accept what you feel as valid and important.

4. Check back for more articles on this subject. I’ll be writing on this and related topics often.

These steps will give you a good start on providing for yourself the kind of love that is needed by every human being.

If you didn’t get it in childhood, you can give it to yourself.


Reference: The Men of the Harvard Grant Study, George Vaillant; Belknap Press, 2012