December 8th, 2011 
Maria Helm 
As the days get shorter and colder, my thoughts turn to cozy nights in front of the fire, hot cocoa, and of course, meals shared with loved ones. The air practically vibrates with good feelings–and not just figuratively.
A study conducted by UC San Diego found that positive emotions–such as happiness felt during the holidays–are contagious. Researchers learned that one person’s joy spread to not only those in his or her immediate circle but also extended to friends of friends too. What they discovered was that happiness creates a domino effect through social networks, and the good feelings that are passed along can last for up to one year.
So I did an experiment of my own to test this theory. I met friends for happy hour. As we traded stories, our conversation was punctuated by outbursts of laughter. A woman not in our group turned to us and said, “You guys are having such a great time, it’s making me feel happy, too!” Apparently our joy that evening was palpable, and her comment proved that our happiness during our happy hour directly impacted more than just those immediately connected with us. Now I may never know if she in turn passed it along to others in her own network. But even if I was able to simply brighten that woman’s evening, I’d call that a success.
Just imagine how many people could be affected this holiday season if each of us spread a little joy to those around us; the positive repercussions are limitless. If our moods have the ability to spread like a virus, it means we’re accountable to more than just ourselves. The old adage “Always remember to be happy. You never know who’s falling in love with your smile’ now takes on a new level of meaning.
Photo Credit: adwriter
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