09 Nov Why Some of Our Most Joyous Moments Happen in Crowds
Too often, too many think of happiness in individual terms.
We can certainly enjoy happiness on our own, but more often than not if you reflect on the happiest moments in your life, you’ll probably realise that there were other people involved!
And not always family and friends.
Enjoying special moments in crowds, like a music concerts or sporting events, are some of the most enjoyable moments …
via Psychology Today by Suzie Pileggi Pawelski and James Pawelski
KEY POINTS
- Positivity makes us more curious, encourages us to connect with others, and helps us find solutions to problems.
- Emotions are contagious, and we all naturally want to spread (and catch) positive emotions whenever possible.
- Savoring shared experiences is one of the most powerful ways we can connect with our loved ones.
Bottom of the 8th inning, the Phillies are down 3-2 to the Padres. Man on first. Bryce Harper is up to bat. The count is 2-2. He swings and whacks the ball hard. It’s going into deep left-center field. It keeps going. And going! And it’s gone! A two-run home run! The crowd goes wild! The noise decibel is off the charts! Everyone is jumping up and down cheering! We are now up 4-3!
Fast forward to top of the ninth inning. The Padres are up to bat. The Phillies are one out away from winning the National League Championship Series (NLCS). A shallow hit into right field. The estimated 45,467 spectators at a sold-out Citizens Bank Park are on their feet waiting silently with bated breath. Nick Castellanos catches the ball for the third out. Suddenly the stadium is on fire! The fans erupt with unfettered excitement. The Phillies are headed to the World Series for the first time since 2009! The joy is palpable, and the collective positive emotion is electrifying!
We can’t help replaying those celebratory moments in our head when the Phillies won the NLCS on Sunday night! Like many, many others, we are pumped for our hard-working, incredibly talented, and resilient team! We were fortunate to have attended the last two games in person with our 11-year-old son. We bought game tickets as a gift for him for his upcoming 12th birthday.
Research suggests that people tend to feel happier when they receive gifts that involve experiences rather than physical gifts. And experiential gifts also appear to strengthen relationships. We took these findings to heart when we invested in tickets for the games for our son, rather than spending money on a material gift. We had discussed how attending the two playoff games would be an experience he’d never forget. Not to mention the memories he’d also have if the Phillies ended up winning!
… keep reading the full & original article HERE