Fourteen Fundamentals

Fundamental Thirteen: Close Relationships Are # 1

More than any other factor, research on happiness shows that close relationships (friends, family, etc.) are the most impactful source of personal happiness of all. This is especially true of the closest kind of relationship we find in life: romantic, couple relationships.

Fundamental Thirteen, therefore, will examine this, “the #1 source of happiness,” in detail — particularly, love relationships. In our discussion, we’ll learn what marriage counselors believe are the most important ingredients of successful relationships, we’ll analyze typical relationship patterns, we’ll climb the mythical “Mountain of Love,” and we’ll pinpoint the obvious “danger signs” of troublesome relationships. It is a discussion which should prove insightful not only for those of you who are already in a love-relationship, but just as well for those of you who may be hoping for one.

Fundamental Fourteen: VALHAP

Finally, there is Fundamental Fourteen. It goes by the acroynm “VALHAP,” but we have always called it “The Secret Fundamental.”

Traditionally, in every forum where I have presented the Fourteen Fundamentals, I have kept VALHAP a secret from my audiences until the very end of my presentations. I do this for two reasons…

First, VALHAP provides an elegant conclusion to all the other Fundamentals, thus it is nicer to save it until the last and have it linger as a bit of a mystery. Certainly, you have to admit it will be more fun, as a reader, to “save the best ’til last.”

Second, and more importantly, if you postpone reading about VALHAP until you’ve read your way up to it, you’ll provide yourself with a remarkably pleasant surprise. You’ll find that VALHAP has already happened to you!

You see, Fundamental Fourteen involves one of the most important happiness-traits we’ve discovered in the research. It’s effect is profound, yet it is something that most people develop, coincidentally, as a by-product of learning about the other thirteen Fundamentals which preceed it.

So keep “the secret Fundamental” a secret from yourself until your reading gets you to it. I’m sure you’ll be a lot “happier” if you do…