Us humans are simple folk really. All we really want out of life is to be understood. To be listened to, trusted and cared for. What we really want is to find our tribe. To connect with that group or person who really gets us, who don’t think it’s weird that we buy endless cookbooks in search of the perfect carbonara recipe, or that we can keep pace with Eminem’s rapping. They love us for our quirks. And because of these healthy relationships we all benefit:

1. Less stress

When we’re in heathy relationships, not just romantic ones but also with friends and family, studies show that we produce more oxytocin, the happy hormone, and are less likely to succumb to stress and anxiety.

2. Positive behaviors

In good relationships we adopt good habits, we kick the booze out and take up exercise and healthier eating. We have better emotional health and as a rule we’re happier in a pair. Research suggests that married people who have undergone heart surgery are three times more likely to survive the first three months after surgery than single patients.

3. Sense of well being

When we’re part of a family or group of friends we feel a greater sense of purpose to our everyday. We like feeling that we’re part of something bigger and special. This makes us happy and adds years to our lives.

4. Feeling fine

Studies have shown that a lack of positive social relationships has the same negative effect on our health as smoking. Unfortunately, loneliness is a silent killer in our communities. When we connect with people on a genuine level we feel supported and encouraged and free to be ourselves.

Loving, respectful relationships make us happy, healthy and can prolong our lives. Human beings are pack animals. We desperately need one another. We need to make time for each other, communicate openly and listen respectfully. Conversation is key to fostering these deep relationships, with families, friends and partners. It’s important to go beyond the surface and create safe spaces where we can all be ourselves and communicate without judgement.

Take that hug, pick up the phone for a chat, call round to a friend, take your pack of Talking Point Cards on your next road trip and use them as a starting point for conversations. Let’s keep talking, it’s good for us. 

Is there anyone who hasn’t wished they could communicate better?

How much better would life be if you had a better relationship with your spouse? With your children? With your parents? With your friends?

The whole idea behind Art Of Betterment is to strengthen real relationships in a digital world. We hate that our time and attention is increasingly consumed by technology which is replacing real, genuine human relationships.

Your family connections and friendships shouldn’t suffer because TV, social media and online games are replacing our face-to-facetime! That’s why our founder, Ben, originally created Art Of Betterment and our line of conversation starter products – known as “Talking Point Cards”– that can strengthen any relationship.

One Mission, A Thousand Voices

And we’re not alone. Our Talking Point Cards were so successful in growing intimacy, deepening trust, removing barriers and opening doors in relationships that people started noticing. We received stories from tens of thousands of customers about how these simple questions breathed new life into their marriages, families and lives!

From that feedback we noticed that communication was just one area which was suffering from the all-consuming impact of technology. So, we expanded our focus to include physical activity, screen-free entertainment, household management, self-care and mental health products - all to get people of all ages away from the screen and living their happiest, healthiest, most fulfilling life possible.