Happiness spreads like the plague

[Geoff Parcell]

The Constellation has known this secret but now scientists have found evidence! See The New Scientist article http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16194-happiness-spreads-like-... or even the bmj article http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/dec04_2/a2338 if you want more technical detail.

For me it emphasises the power of proximity to happy people, so virtual connections can never replace face to face merely supplement it.

What can we learn about spreading the AIDS Competence process?

[Geoff Parcell]

"I realise the big reward of online relationships is real world meet ups." Clay Sharky the author of 'Her Comes Everybody - The Power of Organizing without Organizations. [I'll precis this book when I get round to it but one theme is taking us from Sharing to Cooperation to Collective Action.]

[Jean-Louis Lamboray]

Geoff
Visiting Ning and experiencing the connection with other members makes me happy, deeply happy. So much that I visit Ning every time I have a chance to connect on the Internet!

And yes:
There is no way to happiness; happiness is the way...
JL

[Gaston]

I heard about this article yesterday as well from a friends' friend. It seems it's spreading more than other news.

For me a striking link is our consistent 'focus on strengths'. This is so inherently different that what we normally tend to do, but brings out the positive and the happiness in people. In for example Papua New Guinea, I see this 'pebble' brining ripples throughout the country as well. SALT spreads.

[Marlou]

Not replace or supplement, but can bridge!
"Even people we don't know and have never met have bigger effect on our mood than substantial increases in income," he says.
I havenot seen Idrissa Souare from Guinee for more then a year - but received his semester email to me this morning. He is touching 2 million people in Guinee with MalariaCompetence!! I bet you that virtual message made me verrrry happy (and I am sure your smile causes your new moustache to move when you read this news from a friend of a friend).
Then there are champions in South Africa and the Carribean who almost only know the Constellation and Aids Competence virtually - through web, newsletters, email and Skype but are making great moves in spreading Competence in their context. Yes we can :)

But yes sure, for all it his high time to create a face to face opportunity....

Stay Happy,

Marlou