CAUTION: IT’S CONTAGIOUS AND IT’S NOT THE FLU
You might call it the warm fuzzies. Others might describe it as inspiring. Some people are even moved to tears. Why is it that when we see someone do something nice, or witness an act of kindness, there is that palpable feeling that you get deep inside? Researchers have just recently tapped into studying more about these feelings and the positive affects they can have. But Psychologist and author Jonathan Haidt has zeroed in on these emotions and he calls it “Elevation.” We should warn you though – it is highly contagious.
For years researchers had focused on the negative emotions such as guilt, anger and disgust. But the recent movement in Positive Psychology has turned the tables to look at how powerful feelings of joy and happiness can be. Haidt defines elevation as “a warm, uplifting feeling that people experience when they see unexpected acts of human goodness, kindness, courage, or compassion.” In experiments where subjects witnessed situations where a stranger does a good deed for another stranger, participants reported feeling “warm, pleasant and tingling feelings” especially in the chest area. That could explain those warm fuzzies we mentioned.
But what was most fascinating, and somewhat not surprising, was the boost that these participants got from this experience to go and pass on that feeling to others. Subjects also reported feeling energized and inspired to go and help others and turn their attention outwards towards other people, to become a better person himself or herself.
Sure, paying it forward is nothing new. But it is just a simple reminder that we all have the power to inspire and affect change in others. So as the holiday season approaches, we hope you will take a moment everyday to spread some kindness in your community. You could infect everyone around you and wouldn’t you rather catch some kindness that the flu?