A recent study published in the British Medical Journal shows that happiness is contagious among social networks.  This is true whether the network is in person or online!  It’s a chain reaction of happiness that has a positive impact on the people around us.  In short, if your friend is happy, you are more likely to be happy, at least 15% more likely.  If a friend of a friend is happy, then you are 10% more likely to be happy.  If a friend of a friend of a friend is happy, then you are 6% more likely to catch that happiness.  Similar studies have found that social ties also affect your habits.  When someone quits smoking cigarettes, for example, a friend of theirs has a 36% more likely chance of quitting as well.  It is interesting to note how much of an influence we have on other people, even if we don’t directly see it.  We can literally radiate happiness, and like sunshine share that warmth with the world.

 

Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert