Issue Date: January 7, 2007
SPECIAL HEALTH REPORT
Be a "vital" friend
Resolve to improve existing bonds and find strong new ones this year. You'll feel healthier.
Between weight gain, sleep deprivation and paying off holiday bills, January certainly can be difficult. So before you consider hibernation, think about adding a resolution that can help to make you healthy, wealthy and wise: cultivating vital friendships.
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What exactly are vital friends? According to Tom Rath, author of "Vital Friends: The People You Can't Afford to Live Without," they are people who don't drain your energy but instead contribute to the quality of your life by playing one or more specific roles in it.
"The biggest problem of this generation is that we depend on one person to be everything to us," he says. "When they fail, we feel let down and isolated."
Having gathered information from more than 5 million interviews conducted through the Gallup Organization and several leading researchers, Rath concludes that it is the energy shared between people that makes for great marriages, families and organizations, and shapes the way we feel about ourselves.
Want to go about finding -- and being -- a vital friend?
Look to the friendships you do have: Most likely, you already have some good buddies who fulfill several positive roles in your life. Invest in those relationships by substituting your solo "me" time for "we" time.
Seek out some new friends: Take a class. Be more approachable at work. Throw a "meet my friends" party and have your pals bring theirs over to expand your social horizons.
Look to your spouse: Friendship within marriage accounts for more than 70% of overall marriage satisfaction.
Still want to complain about January? Go right ahead -- just don't do it by yourself. Misery shared with good friends is definitely misery diminished. Happy 2007!
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The Vital Friendships
The Builder: He is a motivator who goes out of his way to help you succeed.
The Champion: Your biggest cheerleader, even when you're not around to hear it.
The Collaborator: Shares almost all your interests and passions.
The Companion: First person you'll call whether the news is good or bad; the one who would sacrifice for you -- and vice versa.
The Connector: The friend who knows everyone and how to get to them.
The Energizer: Need a lift and a laugh? The fun friend you call.
Mind Opener: She introduces you to new activities and ideas and encourages you to express yourself without judgment.
Navigator: The friend who gives great advice, counsel and direction on how to make things better.
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