Many people have such a natural, intuitive knack for pursuing their own happiness that they rarely stop to question whether it should be a solitary pursuit. The short answer is yes, it should be; but also no, it does not have to be.

At the most basic level, happiness is a personal feeling, experienced subjectively within the individual. Who better to work with the causes and construals of happiness, then, than the individual. Interestingly, science has also shown happiness to confer a number of benefits to the individual, including better immune functioning, more curiosity and creativity, and more sociability. And it is here, on that note—sociability—that we have to turn to non-solitary pursuits of happiness.

Humans are, after all, primates and, as such, are social creatures. Studies show that even introverts report more happiness when they are in group settings, and intimate relationships have been linked to greater happiness. In fact, studies also show benefits of happiness for groups: Happy people have better relationships, volunteer more, and are more likely to help a co-worker. In the end, the pursuit of happiness is an individual endeavor with far-reaching social consequences. It is sensible for individuals to shepherd their own happiness, but equally logical to understand that it is relationships that serve both as a route to happiness and a target for happiness.

Robert Biswas-Diener is a positive psychologist, certified mentor coach, and co-founder of The Strengths Project.