New study tracks the transmissibility of happiness

Name: Jane Liu (49712038)
Reaction Article#10
Date: 12/12/2008
From: International Herald Tribune

New study tracks the transmissibility of happiness
(http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/12/04/healthscience/happy.php)

My Reactions:
After I read this article, I knew that one’s happy or not is not all about himself or herself. If people around him don’t be in good mood, he will maybe be influenced by them. So, it’s not the personal business to decide whether you are happy or not. Instead, a person’s happiness has much to do with others, or even some one he don’t know.

Teachers or books always tell us, “Only you can decide to be happy or not.” However, the research told us one’s happiness depends on many people. So, if our friends’ friends feel happy, we will be happy? And the answer is “Maybe”. Much to my surprise is that we may be influenced by people we don’t know. It’s so weird! I never met those people, but they had much to do with my mood and even influenced my life. So, happiness is not a personal thing.

So, after we read this article, we know if we want to help people, the easiest way is to make yourself happy. Because of if you are happy, your happiness can be spread by friends around you to your friends’ friends. And many people will be happy just because of you. And instead, if you feel unhappy, your bad mood will also influence other people’s mood. To make people and yourself feel fine, all you have to do is always be happy. This behavior not only help yourself, but also help others.(266 words)