Have you ever noticed that you become happy when you are with upbeat, joyful people? I was delighted to discover the report from new research from Harvard Medical School and University of California. It suggests that happiness spreads through social networks, like a virus.
James Fowler, the study co-author says, "We have known for a long time that there is a direct relationship between one person's happiness and another's. . . . but this study shows that indirect relationships also affect happiness."
These findings give us a more optimistic perspective for this holiday season, which arrives right in the
middle of economic gloom. Researchers Christakis and Fowler, on the basis of their dataset, found that having $5,000 extra income increased a person's chance of becoming happier only about 2%. On the other hand, the happiness of an immediate social contact increased an individual's chances of becoming happy by 15%. The happiness of a second degree contact of a spouse of a friend, increased the likeliness of becoming happy by 10%, and the happiness of the third-degree contact, the friend of a friend, increased the likeliness of happiness by 6 percent. Take time for your friends.
To learn more about increasing happiness and joy during the holidays, join us for a complimentary teleseminar on "Three Secrets to Creating Family Joy," Friday December 19th at 3:00 PM CST.
I will be interviewing author Don Ginn on the hidden secret from his book, "The Principle," as well as giving you tips on enhancing joy in your family. You may join us by signing up at the right so I may send you the link for the teleseminar.
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