Tap Social Media to Spread Happiness

Every now and then other bloggers ask you to be part of bigger post with many contributors. In connecting with other bloggers, you move into a bigger social network... Interestingly, once you visit other blogs you begin to know the author through conversations on their ideas, and often you make friends with these folks. What an intriguing new aspect of interpersonal intelligence!

These friendships can help boost your happiness, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard and University of California. "Everyday interactions we have with other people are definitely contagious, in terms of happiness," says Nicholas Christakis, an author of this study.

Perhaps more surprising, Christakis says, is that the effect extends beyond the people we come into contact with. When one person becomes happy, the social network effect can spread up to 3 degrees — reaching friends of friends.

"We find that people at the center of the social network tend to be happier," says co-author James Fowler, a political science professor at U.C. San Diego.

Imagine a birds-eye view of a party: "You may see some people in quiet corners talking one-on-one," Fowler says. Others would be at the center of the room having conversations with lots of people. According to the study findings, those in the center would be among the happiest.

"We think the reason why is because those in the center are more susceptible to the waves of happiness that spread throughout the network," Fowler explains.

One way we get to know people behind blogs is to contribute to a larger meme in which you reveal facts about yourself. So when Anita Bruzzese tagged me to share seven interesting facts about me I decided to contribute...

7 Interesting Random Facts About Robyn McMaster

1. Appreciate the depth of John Milton's poetry. Today's his 400th birthday... Here's a quote you'd enjoy... "The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven."

2. Live in an old Stagecoach Inn, which was part of a century farm - a farm owned by a family for three generations of one family. Eli Griffith built it in 1836. Love it since my hubby and I own 146 acres!

3. Take pleasure in exploring the woods with my grandsons. We discovered a huge hollow tree together, the kind from which fables and fantasies derive.

4. Took pity on Ginger, a stray cat that wended her way to our home. After my son's family adopted a litter, which she presented unexpectedly, we had her spayed. She runs to meet me when I drive into the yard. Ginger's an unexpected melody.

5. Enjoy using puppets for creative exchanges with my grandsons. Just one of many activities to stimulate their minds...

6. Doubted Ellen Weber's words, "Robyn, you're brilliant." Because her words caused me to question what I was doing, eventually I followed a call to use God-given talents that lay unused. Must admit, I still doubt that description, but am curious, adventurous and open to keep learning.

7. Play golf with relish. In the last three years, Ellen Weber and I, as part of a foursome brought home first place trophies in Rotary tournaments. Now that snow's outside, I consider new courses to explore next year.

What about you? Want to join in this fascinating social exchange? I'm tagging

Big Man Walking

Amy Palko

Isadore Biffin

Ulla Henning

R.J. Leaman

Giovanna Garcia

Eva Ulian

Anyone who wants to be part of this list is welcome to join.

Here's what to do...

• Link to your original tagger, and list these rules on your blog.

• Share seven facts about yourself in the post - some random, some weird.

• Tag seven people at the end of your post by leaving their names and the links to their blogs.

• Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blogs and/or Twitter.

I see this meme as a great way to prime your intrapersonal and interpersonal intelligences to spread good will to bloggers you met recently.