The Power of Kindness

Taking a break from all of the college textbooks and getting back into the scheme of essays, exams, and projects, one of my professors recommended that we all read this book.  The funny part?  He said that it was not necessary, but extremely recommended for anyone studying in his class and as a communications major.

Although I have not quite finished the book (I'm only about a quarter of the way through), one section really stood out to me and I thought I could share the experience.

Remember the storm that occurred about 3-4 days ago?  Well, how much communication was used before then, and how much communication was used during and after?  Take THIS ARTICLE for example.  People pointed out that we're so lost everyday in our own world and phones, that there's no real "connection" anymore, but silence.  When it comes down to coming home or going out with friends, we still have our electronics on, or we are not able to give them our full 100% attention because there's something else on our mind.  What a sense of warmth and connection it must have been.  Now, I cannot relate to this because I am a few thousand miles away (from Baltimore, Maryland), but I can look at this from a Communications standpoint.

In the book The Power of Kindness, Piero Ferrucci discusses "Warmth: The Temperature of Happiness."  As a general rule of thumb, we know that warmth brings us comfort and happiness, right?  For example, physical warmth is "not a luxury but a necessary condition for life."  He uses the example of babies; If babies do not get warmth, comfort, or a sense of touch, they can die, or if they do not receive enough of it, they will not be able to "thrive" later in life.  They may (or may not) be able to understand what it is like to be comforted or to give comfort.  So, we're like babies: "sometimes we need to be touched...we need someone to talk to, someone who knows and appreciate us."

What happened to hearing somebody pick up the other end of the phone when calling a company, when now it's just a robot that is "used for better service?"  Ferrucci writes in his book, "We often take warmth for granted and only notice it when it is gone.  Then we understand its importance." 

On the contrary, Ferrucci writes that there are obstacles to accomplishing "warmth" because we're "afriad that if we come too close, or if we are too open, we will be invaded, controlled, or hurt."  He uses the example as when the wind blows cold air against us: When a gust comes, a traveler will not undress, but rather bring his coat more tightly around himself in order to keep himself warm.  He knows that, that coat brings a sense of comfort and protection.

To wrap up, let's go back to what I was originally saying about "warmth."  When we are comfortable, or warm, we're generally more happy.  And what's more exciting than sharing a moment of happiness when you're with somebody?  Nothing, really.  Remember that time when you were in elementary school and you made an amazing shot....but, nobody was there to see it?  Kind of the same thing; You got a sense of joy from the shot and skill, but nobody was there to share the excitement with you.
 Happiness is key!  And with happiness, as studies have shown, being happy can help reduce having pain or illness, and the best part?  It's addicting and contagious.