It Spreads Further Than You Think

I am blessed with a husband who is of the old school in terms of manners. He opens doors for me, takes my arm when we cross the street, and all that good stuff. His good manners extend not just to me. The other day he opened the door for a woman at Starbucks and let her enter ahead of him. When it was his turn to order his coffee, he was told that woman had already paid for his drink. When he thanked her, she told him she thought chivalry should be rewarded.

What happened at Starbucks reminded me of how energy spreads and affect others. My husband sent out good energy and the woman reciprocated. But the positive energy did not affect just the two of them because the server and those witnessing the interaction were also recipients. When my husband came home and shared the experience with me, I also felt happier and lighter, as might others who might hear the story. If a better mood creates more positive interactions, who knows how far this ripple might spread?

Now compare this scenario with the last time someone honked at you in traffic, perhaps even shouting or shaking a fist. Remember how that impacted you. Even if you didn't retaliate in action, regaining your equilibrium was likely to have taken some effort. If the experience managed to put you in a bad mood, that negativity is likely to carry over into your next interactions. And thus a negative ripple spreads just as effectively, if not more so, as a positive one!

I am of the opinion that negative energy is spreading more rapidly in our world than positive energy. Civility seems to on the wane. The increase in road rage, for example, speaks to an increasing self-centeredness, expecting others to conform to our convenience. Even senators and congressman are now shouting insults in formal proceedings.

Even though we cannot control what others do, I think it is important to remember that we are not helpless. We have control over how much we are affected by the negativity through stress reduction skills, and we can make the choice of sending more positive energy into the world. It's amazing how much good just a smile and a warm hello can do, not just for the other person but for ourselves. We can set the tone for how we relate to others, and the positive effects can spread much further than we think.