The Power of Nice in the Age of Mean

The demeaning insults, the angry diatribes, the total disrespect and disregard of any opinion that isn't an exact replica of our own. And we're just talking about this past Thanksgiving dinner. Millions of our own beloved relatives and friends could not resist talking turkey about their political views, red, blue, purple, green and rainbow colored. (Who knew that tryptophan could be such a life-saver, mercifully putting to bed myriad arguments with a self-satisfied snooze before the pumpkin pie was served?) And now with the winter holidays approaching, the familial season of good tidings and cheer might well snowball into a wrath of infighting and tears. So as we approach the New Year, let us not rush to usher in the age of mean, where nastiness, bullying and intolerance become the new black. Instead, we'd like to offer you some "nice" facts that may help guide your better angels: 1. Nice is Luckier in Love. A University of Toronto study found that people who are congenial have one half the divorce rate of the general population. 2. Nice Makes More Money. Daniel Goleman, author of Primal Leadership, found that every 2 percent increase in the service climate of an organization- that is, the cheerfulness and helpfulness of the staff - saw a 1 percent increase in revenue. 3. Nice is Healthier. Ervin Staub, professor of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, found that people who regularly perform acts of kindness have fewer trips to the doctor. And a University o...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news