Being Single May Make You Happier Than Ever

Contrary to popular belief, one is *not* the loneliest number

Increasing numbers of people are single for one simple reason: they want to be. They don't have intimacy issues, they are not selfish, and they are not single because they cannot find a partner. It's a deliberate choice. While many may still believe that being single is synonymous with isolation and that the only on-ramp to happiness is marriage, research tells a different story.

Social scientists Natalia Sarkisian and Naomi Gerstel found that single people have more social connections and are more involved in their communities than their married counterparts. They are also more likely to socialize with neighbors and to reach out to their social network. Put simply, they are generous, happy, and satisfied with their choice. Moreover, they are a lifeline of the community and a reservoir of connection.

Related research suggests that single people are also healthier than their partnered peers. They work out more and are in better shape. On top of their physical fitness and active social lives, single people are more likely to experience a sense of personal growth and a feeling that their life is a continuous process of learning and discovery.

One thought to keep in mind: People change. We are ever-evolving. Daniel Gilbert, professor of psychology at Harvard University and author of the best-selling Stumbling on Happiness, puts it this way: "Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they're finished. The person you are right now is as transient, as fleeting, and as temporary as all the people you've ever been. The one constant in our life is change."

Stay flexible. Keep an open mind. You never know what your future self will think.