Whether you realize it or not, your success and outlook in life may also depend on the people around you.
But science takes this one step further and says that your success may depend on who you marry.
A recently published study at Carnegie Mellon University shows that your partner can greatly influence the decisions you make, ultimately contributing to your success or failure.
According to this study, people with supportive spouses have a better chance of giving themselves a shot at success.
People with supportive spouses take on more difficult tasks
This conclusion was reached after research on 163 married couples. Each partner was given a choice: either solve a simple puzzle or compete for a prize. The researchers then noted each couple’s interactions with each other.
They discovered that those with more encouraging and supportive spouses preferred to compete for the prize. Those whose spouses were discouraged chose the simple puzzle.
The research did not end here. When the researchers followed the same couples 6 months later, they found that generally couples who made the difficult choice were happier than couples who made the easier choice.
Brooke Feeney, professor of psychology in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, who is the lead author of this study, says:
“We found support for the notion that the choices people make at specific decision stages—such as pursuing a job opportunity or seeking out new friends—are crucial to their long-term well-being.”
“Your spouses can help you succeed by embracing life opportunities. Or they can hinder your development process by making you less likely to pursue growth opportunities. ”
Famous and successful couples agree.
Perhaps the best proof of this is the successful and popular couples in today’s world. Barack and Michelle Obama, Mark Zuckerberg and Pricilla Chan are just some of these most iconic couples.
They all come from different backgrounds and exist in different industries. But they all agree to something similar: that they wouldn’t be as successful without their partner as they are now.
Barack Obama has this to say about his wife:
“Obviously I couldn’t have done anything I’ve done without Michelle. You’ve been asking me before about what keeps me sane, keeps my balance, helps me cope with pressure. Here is this young lady… I trust her in so many ways every day.”
Mark Zuckerberg said similar things in his 2017 Harvard keynote . Attributing his social work work to his wife, Priscilla, the Facebook founder says:
“Priscilla is the most important person in my life, so she is the most important thing I have built in my time here.”
However, these supportive spouses are not only women, of course. World-famous singer Beyonce expresses the support of her husband Jay-Z. According to Beyonce, Jay-Z helps and supports her on “many levels.”
“I wouldn’t be the woman I am today if I didn’t go to that man, that house. It has provided and is providing me with such a foundation.”
Final Thoughts
We all have very different definitions of success. And maybe some of you don’t want to get married.
However, you cannot deny the wonderful things a supportive partner will bring into your life. Just having someone who believes in you and gives you the confidence to take bigger risks is truly invaluable.
It not only makes you more successful, it also makes your achievements more valuable and meaningful. As they say, success feels less common if you have no one to share it with. It’s definitely not a must-have, but it can make something very special.
Maybe this is something you should always look for in your future spouses.
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