July 22, 2009

Information and knowledge don't guarantee wisdom. There are many well-educated people in the world who lack wisdom. And, of course, there are wise people who haven't had the benefit of formal educations. Wisdom and knowledge are not necessarily two sides of the same coin!

Wisdom comes from life experience. It's the kind of knowledge that can be universally applied, that's relevant to almost all situations and circumstances.

What wisdom do you possess? What truths do you know that could help others navigate the highs and lows of life? Finding ways to share your wisdom with others adds meaning and depth to your relationships. If you'd like to share with us, email me here! Please add 'My Wisdom' to your subject line.

July 8, 2009

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy." --Guillaume Apollinaire

July 1, 2009

Harvard scientists have shown that happiness spreads from person to person up to three connections away. In other words, if a friend of your mother's becomes happier, it ripples through your social network and affects you, even if you don't actually know your mother's friend!

How close you are to these 'happy' people also affects you. When you connect with a happy person who is a mile away, the interaction can increase your probability of feeling happy by 14%. A happy next-door neighbor can increase it by 34%!

Researchers have shown that the effect also applies to obesity and smoking. "If people around you gain weight," explains Nicholas Christakis, MD, medical sociology professor at Harvard Medical School, "it changes your expectations about what an acceptable body size is." When one person chooses to lose weight, quit smoking, or become happy, others follow.

This lends more credibility to the old saying, "choose your friends wisely," doesn't it?