A quick way to become happy and feel happy is to get infected with a virus, that is the happiness virus. Happiness is a virus, but hey, it spreads easily with little effort. This revolutionary idea is supported by Harvard University research published in the British Medial Journal (online). A study was conducted over more than 20 years among 4,700 people that supports the following claims;

1. Happiness is transferred from one person to another or group.

However, it lasts for about a year. Rather, it’s a common observation backed by a wide range of research that people’s emotions influence each other. For example, when someone smiles at you, you usually smile back or when you see your friends laugh, you also tend to laugh, sometimes without knowing the reason behind their laugh. However, knowing that happiness endures and continues for about a year is an astonishing research finding. Consider how happy your life can be if you associate with all of your happy friends and the people you meet. Doing it routinely should bring you a happy life!

2. Happiness has a ripple effect.

The good virus of happiness can travel from one person to another. In other words, when you are happy, your family and friends who are in immediate contact with you become happy too. In addition, people who are in contact with their family and friends also become happy. According to research results, members of your immediate network could increase your happiness by 8 to 34 percent. This effect continues up to three levels, the degree of separation from their friendship networks. However, it drops to 10 percent and 6 percent before disappearing. This characteristic domino effect of happiness is known in economics as a multiplier.

The value of a happy moment or event is much more than could be observed since it influences many circles of people who are in contact with you. Interestingly, Harvard University research indicates that unhappiness could also be passed from one person to another. However, it has less of a ripple effect. Happiness is much more powerful than sadness and unhappiness. In other words, contrary to popular belief, doom and sadness are less contagious than happiness. This should give you a huge head start and a much easier way to be happy and stay happy. Also, any effort you put into being happy is much more valuable and effective than being sad.

3. Exogenous factors could be a catalyst for your happiness.

As much as your personal feelings and emotions may be determined by your mere choices, external factors and the environment can also influence your happiness. In other words, how you feel and how you react to problems in your life could determine how happy you are. On the contrary, external factors such as your friends and surroundings can also affect your happiness. You must decide and think happy to be happy. However, by organizing the living environment and decorations, listening to happy songs, watching happy movies, and being around happy people, it will help you to be happy and stay happy too. Consequently, by creating a habitual happy lifestyle, you could welcome happiness into your life forever.

4. If you don’t belong to a happy network, create one.

People prefer happiness to sadness. If you don’t belong to a happy and optimistic network of friends, why not create your own? There are many support groups for different causes and problems, you could develop your own happiness support group. You will be amazed at how quickly your group becomes popular and expands. Since the happiness virus spreads faster and lasts longer than the unhappiness virus, your network could spread much faster than you think. Doing so will not only bring you happiness, but it will also make your friends and other people happy. Considering that happy events have a multiplier effect, this may be one of the noble contributions you can offer to your family, friends, and community.

Happiness is contagious and spreads like a virus. It has a ripple effect and multiplies your value through your immediate family and friends and continues beyond two more circles of your friends. While happiness is a decision you make about how to deal with problems in your life, your surroundings and surroundings also play an important role in keeping you happy. If you don’t belong to a happy network of friends, stay away from them and create your own. By doing so, you make everyone who comes in contact with you and your friends a happy person!

In future articles, I will review the different aspects of happiness while also showing you practical strategies for being happy and feeling happy. Live happy!