In this video I talk about emotional contagion, i.e. the fact that we tend to take on the emotions of people around us and explain about a fascinating British study that showed just how widespread the effect can be.
You are the difference
Share this
Comments
3 responses to “You are the difference”
-
Even studies with lab rats have shown emotional contagion. Whenever a researcher laughs at something funny a lab rat does the other researchers start laughing too.
Garrison Kiellor -
Sometimes there are people that will never ‘catch’ your happiness [I’ve met individuals who seem to work very hard at being unhappy], but going round happy gives you a kind of protective coating [endorphins?].
Yesterday, I told a friend how nice her hair looked, had she had it re-styled? Grumpily, she told me she had only dried it…
Once, I would have thought: ‘what did I do wrong?’ Yesterday, I just felt sorry for my friend for being in a grump.
Nothing had changed, but everything had changed [for me, at least]!
-
Today, for the first time since I have worked at my job (4 1/2 years) I acknowledged my boss’s birthday! Yup – just coffee and cookies and a little sign saying “Help celebrate __________’s special day” but I did it. We are only a two person office, mind you but I will have volunteers who will take a cookie AND benefit from my little bit of happiness that I am sharing. I don’t like my boss always. Sometimes he frustrates the bejeezus out of me! But I could have been sour about his birthday again this year or I could take the time to acknowledge the way I would like to be acknowledged. I’m pretty sure, I am taking away more happiness from the whole gesture and I am really, really good with that! Much thanks to you Alex, for helping me with working toward a much longer “Happy Hour” than I had a year ago!
Connect
Get our newsletter
“I can’t believe it – a newsletter actually worth reading!”
– Subscriber
Over 6,000 people subscribe to our newsletter with tons of tips about happiness at work.
Get our books
“It’s very, very good. It’s incredibly well written, full of insights, and there are exercises to improve your own happiness at work. You can’t ask for more than that!”
– David Maister, author of Practice What You Preach
“What an inspiring book. Every leader should read it. This type of leadership has been integral to our success and I know it will boost your results too.“
– Garry Ridge, CEO WD-40 Company
Get Our Free Newsletter
Over 6,000 people already get our free newsletter with useful tips, videos, links and articles about happiness at work.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
Top posts last week
Non-inspirational quotesOctober 22, 2003
Homework makes kids hate learningAugust 28, 2006
How to handle chronic complainersAugust 24, 2006
Leave a Reply