Many of us believe that the more friends we have, the happier we’ll be. But recent research reveals a different picture: true happiness doesn’t come from a massive social network, but from a handful of close, meaningful relationships. Studies have shown that a smaller, tighter circle of friends is far more impactful for lifelong well-being than having dozens of acquaintances. In fact, the quality of your connections matters much more than the quantity. As The New York Times reports, happiness may actually peak with fewer close friendships than you might expect.
