“Emotions spread like viruses, but not all emotions spread with the same ease. Cheerfulness and warmth spread most easily, while irritability is less contagious and depression spreads hardly at all.

“Laughter in particular, demonstrates the power of the open loop in operation, and therefore, the contagious nature of all emotion. Hearing laughter, we automatically smile or laugh too, creating a spontaneous chain reaction that sweeps through a group.

“Laughter offers a uniquely trustworthy sign of friendliness. Unlike other emotional signals— especially a smile, which can be feigned—laughter involves highly complex neural systems that are largely involuntary. It’s harder to fake.

“In a neurological sense, laughing represents the shortest distance between two people because it instantly interlocks limbic systems. This immediate, involuntary reaction - involves ‘the most direct communication possible between people—brain to brain—with intellect just going along for the ride.’

“In any work setting, the sound of laughter signals the group’s emotional temperature, offering one sure sign that people’s hearts as well as their minds are engaged.

“A good laugh sends a reassuring message--We’re on the same wavelength, we get along. It signals trust, comfort, and a shared sense of the world - as a rhythm in a conversation, laughing signals that all is well for the moment.” From Primal Leadership, Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence, by Daniel Goldman.

During emotional times like these, the wake from Hurricane Katrina and the four year anniversary of 9/11, it’s important to share laughter along with the sadness.

Help others to laugh. Create joyful experiences. See a funny movie (Wedding Crashers is hysterical.) Find humor in your children returning to school, the emergence of football season and flopping into a batch of brilliantly colored fall leaves.

The most gut-felt, authentic and contagious laughter has little to do with a ‘punch line’ and everything to do with the connectedness between two or more individuals.

Enjoy your week and go out to find something to laugh about!

Ann

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Permission is granted to either reproduce copy or distribute "Your Success Thought for the Week of September 14, 2005" so long as this copyright notice and full information about contacting the author is attached. The author is Ann Golden Eglé, Golden Visions Success Coaching, LLC, 541.385.8887, 1972 NE 3rd St, Suite # 307 Bend, Oregon 97701, www.GVSuccess.com