smiles1.jpgCan the happiness of people you don’t even know impact your happiness? Can the happiness of your friends’ friends’ friends affect your happiness?

Yes. A resounding yes, according to a Harvard Medical School study (New York Times article below) soon to be published in the British Medical Journal. According to the study, the “social contagion” factor of emotions (good and bad) is extremely high.

Evidently, emotions have quite the collective existence. Our moods, our body language and emotional signals, conscious and unconscious, affect those around us. Which, in turn, affect those who they are around. Which, in turn…

Bottom line?

Take responsibility for your moods. You are contagious!

 New York Times Article: Strangers May Cheer You Up, Study Says [December 4, 2008]