The Gift of Good News
Did you know that sharing a good piece of news or a positive experience can enhance both your life and the life of others? According to a series of studies published by the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, sharing a positive experience or piece of news with others and receiving an active and positive response can increase your happiness and bring great satisfaction to both the sharer and the listener.
Sharing the happiness
When something good happens to you, you might be the type of person who feels compelled to share the joy with the world. Some people just can’t hold in the happiness and excitement which can feel like it is bursting out of your every pore. For others, they may be more hesitant or even feel uncomfortable or fearful of sharing news of their good fortune.
According to Harvard Business Review, feeling anxious when something good happens to you is quite common. They refer to it as a double edged sword, on the one hand the joy of the positive and on the other hand the social pressures and expectations that may accompany it. If this is how you feel when you experience something good, you are not alone.
Additionally, Psychology Today notes that bad news tends to attract more attention than good news, which may discourage some people from sharing their positive experiences.
For those who naturally take joy in sharing news of their good fortune and feel comfortable “yelling it from the rooftops”, social media might be a great outlet for them. It’s a great way to reach a lot of people and get a nice dose of dopamine in the process.
Second hand happiness
Did you know that second-hand happiness is a thing? Yes, it is true. Not only does it feel good to share positive news, the listener feels good too. Notice what you feel when you hear or see something good happening to someone you love, or even when you watch a happy reunion or something positive on television.
According to TD Jakes, research presented at the 2017 Society of Personality and Social Psychology Annual Convention revealed that the person who receives good news gets lots of good out of it too. So if you are one of those people who hesitates before sharing good news, this might motivate you to do it anyway. You are actually helping others!
Positive news makes you…positive!
The benefits of sharing good news are numerous. According to the World Wide Group platform, sharing good news can lead to a more positive mindset, improve cardiovascular health and even lengthen someone’s lifespan. So, the next time you hear some good news or have a positive experience, consider sharing it with others and spreading the joy.
