"Emotions may spread like viruses, but not all emotions spread with the same ease." A Yale study of working groups found that cheerfulness and warmth spread most easily, while irritability is less contagious and depression spreads hardly at all.
"This greater diffusion rate for good moods has direct implications for business results [and home front results, I add.] Moods, the Yale study found, influence how effectively people work; upbeat moods boost cooperation, fairness, and business performance."
What does this mean to me as a mom and wife? My moods can influence how effectively my family works together. It's as simple as that.
I am committed to practising 'emotion coaching.' It works to manage my own emotions and my family's.
John Gottman [Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child] teaches science-based emotion coaching. He and Daniel Goleman quote each other when it comes to promoting the importance of emotional intelligence. I love them both!!
They have taught me so much about how to deal with my emotions and my family's too.
We have more peace because of their wonderful research.
Because I practice emotion coaching, I am aware of and try to accurately label my moods. I allow moods to just be and look for the teaching opportunities in them. Because I forgive myself for my moods, they pass more quickly. An upbeat feeling returns as I triumph and learn from situations.