We've known it all along, laugh and the world laughs with you.
Now, a study conducted by UCSD and Harvard has found that happiness spreads through social networks, just like the flu. Researchers discovered that when one person is happy, their friends, spouses and other contacts have a greater chance of also being happy.
In fact, they found that the effects can spread from friend to friend, up to 3 degrees away, even to people you don't know. Since we all are connected by an average of 6 degrees of separation, imagine how little effort it takes to liven up a room, a company or a nation?
These are some of the findings of the Harvard/UCSD study:
• Happiness spreads best among people who have closer social relationships, including neighbors, friends, siblings and spouses.
• Seeing people more often makes it more likely you'll catch a case of happy.
• People at the center of social networks tend to be happier than those on the periphery.
• Unhappiness also moves through social networks, but not as well as happiness.
• There is evidence that all social contacts, face-to-face, telephone and internet, help spread happiness.
All of this frontline scientific knowledge got me thinking, and after careful analysis, I've come to these
conclusions:
1. If you want to be happier, keep connected.
2. Get involved, you'll be happier than standing on the sidelines.
3. Don't drop your unhappy friends. Keep them in your network and you're likely to make them happier.
4. The Carlsbad Chamber (c'mon, you knew it would come around to this) is a great vehicle for happiness because it promotes social contact among people involved in local business.
It's well established that people who are happier have fewer problems with heart disease and other ills, which all leads to the logical conclusion that being involved in the chamber is good for your health. Who knew?
Now, a study conducted by UCSD and Harvard has found that happiness spreads through social networks, just like the flu. Researchers discovered that when one person is happy, their friends, spouses and other contacts have a greater chance of also being happy.
In fact, they found that the effects can spread from friend to friend, up to 3 degrees away, even to people you don't know. Since we all are connected by an average of 6 degrees of separation, imagine how little effort it takes to liven up a room, a company or a nation?
These are some of the findings of the Harvard/UCSD study:
• Happiness spreads best among people who have closer social relationships, including neighbors, friends, siblings and spouses.
• Seeing people more often makes it more likely you'll catch a case of happy.
• People at the center of social networks tend to be happier than those on the periphery.
• Unhappiness also moves through social networks, but not as well as happiness.
• There is evidence that all social contacts, face-to-face, telephone and internet, help spread happiness.
All of this frontline scientific knowledge got me thinking, and after careful analysis, I've come to these
conclusions:
1. If you want to be happier, keep connected.
2. Get involved, you'll be happier than standing on the sidelines.
3. Don't drop your unhappy friends. Keep them in your network and you're likely to make them happier.
4. The Carlsbad Chamber (c'mon, you knew it would come around to this) is a great vehicle for happiness because it promotes social contact among people involved in local business.
It's well established that people who are happier have fewer problems with heart disease and other ills, which all leads to the logical conclusion that being involved in the chamber is good for your health. Who knew?