The lyrics of an old song claim that when you smile, the whole world smiles with you. Well, maybe not everybody you offer your beautiful smile will smile back, but some people will. Maybe even most people will.
You may not feel much like smiling, but according to UC San Diego and Harvard Medical School researchers, it’s not only smiles that are contagious. Happiness itself seems to be. In 2008, UC San Diego and Harvard Medical School researchers explored how happiness spreads. And as it turns out, each of our happy friends increases our own happiness.
Ok, so maybe this information isn’t all that earth-shattering. Most of us have experienced a good friend’s company that has pulled us up when we’ve been down. Or even made us feel happier when we already felt good. Still, the details are interesting. We really can have influential friends.
Parents of estranged adult children may need to work a little harder happiness. I hear from parents every day who are suffering and sad—sometimes after many years. But happiness is possible. Lila changed her perspective and got happy again. Happy friends can help, so don’t isolate yourself.
Spreading Happiness.
According to the study, in-person friends who live in close proximity have the most influence. A happy friend who lives within a mile of us increases our happiness by 25%. But even our friends will benefit when from us having a happy friend—by 10%. Seriously, happiness spreads. So when our friends have a happy friend, we also get happier.
Obviously, the personal component of having a friend who can look us in the eye, see what we’re seeing, and share an infectious laugh isn’t exactly replicated over a computer screen, a telephone line, or in the tiny words of a text. But online social networking may also help.
Get happy online.
One of the researchers for this study also looked at Facebook profiles. He found that that people who smiled in their profile photos had more friends who were smiling in theirs.
It’s long been known that social connections influence our health, happiness, and longevity. This research makes the case that it’s not just the number of people we know, but also their outlook that positively affects our own.
Be a happy friend.
So, what should we do with this information? The researchers believe that knowing our happiness can affect other people, might motivate us each to spread good cheer. We can be a happy friend, and have a positive effect on others.
This study makes me think of the perennials in my garden, which is bursting to life in the warm spring air. Seeing their colorful blooms makes me happy, but each spring, they multiply, increasing my joy. They add more color and fragrance among the duller shrubs. This morning, I found sweet basil coming up, a scented surprise. The Jupiter’s Beard (a type of verbena) have also spread. Their vibrant pink flowers spill pure happiness over the drab garden wall.
Happy friends of all varieties increase our bliss. Even if you’ve been down, consider making a conscious effort to spread and receive a little happiness. Be one of those sunny flowers if you can, and brighten up somebody who’s feeling drab.
Take action in your own community. Can you initiate some good social contact? Can you find more ways to connect and have fun? Could you seek out the happiest people you know?
Or, how about practicing your own smile, and sharing it with everybody you see? It’s a start, and it’s contagious.
Consider “liking” the Help and Healing for Estranged Adult Children Facebook Page, where I try to often post happy thoughts.
You might also enjoy the Community Support Group for Parents of Estranged Adult Children. And don’t worry. All of this happy talk doesn’t mean members of the support group for parents of estranged adult children won’t understand if you’re feeling down. We’ve all been there at one time or another. But hanging out in a positive atmosphere of moving forward does help. And just today, some members were commenting on how much better they feel after joining.
Hopefully, you will think of me as a happy friend, and smile a little as you read the articles here at the site, the posts in the forum, and on the Help and Healing for Parents of Estranged Adult Children Facebook page.
Related articles:
Dynamic spread of happiness in a large social network
Emotional Scars After an Adult Child’s Estrangement
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I too haven’t had contact with my oldest daughter for over 3 years. It was hard but I keep busy with family and friends. I pray for her & her family daily. Worst times are birthday since ours are same day, but that’s OK. It is what it is. Keep busy, pray along & when you get sad pray, sing, dance, swim, walk and just see all the beauty around us!!! Take care, I pray you find peace!!!!
My circumstances have just started although looking back I could see the signs but chose to ignore them
My youngest son doesn’t like my husband he blames him for how he is feeling today they have never been close same old two families trying to live together stepfather/mother etc
anyway My son decided he doesn’t want my husband in his or his families life which is fine I can deal and work with that but he also said I can’t have my granddaughter at my house
He has been avoiding my calls and texts his wife doesn’t talk to me if I’m at their house unless I speak to her first she doesn’t make eye contact I don’t get invited out on special occasions only her friends and family
My feeling are in tatters I don’t know where I stand or how I’m going to get through this
One heart broken mum and nanny
I have now accepted that my oldest daughter is out of my life for good, even in bad health or in death I don’t want her back in, she has caused me too much pain, and her two daughters, my first granddaughters that I have lived and cherished, gone for good. My husband passed away last summer and she was daddy’s girl, and she made my life even worst after his passing. Sometimes you just have to close that chapter of your life. Thank you for always sending supporting articles to read. Happy Easter to you and yours
Oh, Marie, how my heart aches for you. Children that we carried for 9 months, met their every need growing up and beyond end up slapping us in the face for some offense. We’ve been estranged from our youngest son now for 3 1/2 years and the pain remains. God told us to let him (and his wife and children) go-much easier said than done. May God fill that empty spot in your heart with others and with Himself. May He give you peace and comfort as you move forward without your daughter.