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Research has shown your choice of friends is a remarkable predictor of your health and well-being. Growing evidence suggests disease spreads through social networks, and your risk of attempting suicide is four times higher if you have a friend who has tried to kill themselves.
On the upside, happiness is also contagious. Your shot at also being happy increases if you are surrounded by happy people, with your chances improving by 25% if a friend lives within 1.6km.
The influence our friends have on our health and happiness begs the question as to what kind of impact can they have on our art and creativity?
The answer is plenty. ‘The people we know affect us in subtly major ways: for one, they help us land gigs. For two, they shape our behaviour: if you’re someone who’s endlessly assessing things, then it’s a good idea to pair up (personally or professionally) with someone inclined toward action (though you may drive yourself crazy for a while). Third, they shape our ideas, ’ observes writer Drake Baer.
It seems the adage it’s not what you know but who you know holds some truth. Part of the reason is pragmatic: opportunities are attached to people. A chance conversation at a barbecue or a comment on Facebook can alert you to the job or project that has not been – and may not be – advertised.
