According to a Carnegie Mellon University study, those who receive emotional support from their spouses are “more likely to give themselves the chance to succeed.”
Psychologists studied 163 couples and came to the conclusion that people with supportive partners were more likely to dive into potentially rewarding challenges.
People who take on challenges experienced more personal growth, psychological well-being, and overall happiness just a few months later.
“We found support for the idea that the choices people make at these specific decision points, such as pursuing a work opportunity…matter a lot for their long-term well-being,” lead author of the study and professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences , Brooke Feeney stated.
Many of the most successful and influential people in the world have also discussed the crucial importance of having a partner by their side throughout the trajectory of their career.
Ex-President Barack Obama believes his wife is to be credited for his political success.
“Obviously I couldn’t have done anything that I’ve done without Michelle,” Obama told Oprah Winfrey in 2011. “You were asking earlier what keeps me sane, what keeps me balanced, what allows me to deal with the pressure. It is this young lady right here… Not only has she been a great first lady, she is just my rock. I count on her in so many ways every single day.”
Photo by Noah Kalina. noahkalina.com
Posted by Priscilla Chan on Saturday, May 19, 2012
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, revealed the importance of the role his wife Priscilla Chan plays in his life in a commencement speech at Harvard from back in 2017.
The tech giant had the following to say:
“Priscilla’s the most important person in my life so you can say, it’s the most important thing I built in my time here,” he says in his speech.
Los Angeles! Get to Rose Bowl Stadium early tonight! The Carters will take the stage at 8:30PM due to noise regulations in the neighborhood.
Posted by JAY-Z on Saturday, September 22, 2018
We must note, that it is not just women supporting their husbands. In a 2013 interview on the Oprah show, Beyonce said her husband, Jay-Z, is strongly supportive of her and helps her “on so many levels”.
“I would not be the woman I am if I did not go home to that man,” says the Grammy winning singer. “It just gives me such a foundation.”
The study reveals that there are three main steps one can take to energize their spouse into embracing new work opportunities: Express enthusiasm, reassure your partner and discuss the benefits of trying something new.
“Significant others can help you thrive through embracing life opportunities,” Feeney explains. “Or they can hinder your ability to thrive by making it less likely that you’ll pursue opportunities for growth.”
Do you have a supporting partner by your side? Share your story with us in the comment section, and please share this article if you enjoyed the read.
