One of the things I’m really liking about being in this niche is reading and commenting on the other blogs that discuss similar issues. One of my favorites is Karol Kadja’s Ridiculously Extraordinary blog.
I was reading his post about doing good deeds and then telling people about it and he said he received feedback from people who basically said, ‘if you talk about your good deeds they don’t count.’ I know this is not an isolated viewpoint but I think it is very counterproductive.
Most people are affected by the example they see around them. You could call it contagious. If you are around people who bitch and complain about a lot of things it won’t be long until you start to bitch and complain yourself. Soon it can affect your outlook on life.
I’ve had the bad timing to be spending three month in the US during the peak of an election cycle and I can barely stand to watch TV because of the barrage of negative campaign ads. (I don’t think any entity does more damage to the collective American psyche – every two years, no less – than politicians do!)
Conversely, being around positive people who tell you about their good deeds, however small, is inspiring. Hearing how somebody gave a word of encouragement to a person who was dispirited, or how a friend gave some money or a break to someone who is struggling is not just heartwarming, it also induces us to do likewise. Talking about a good deed is the opposite of bitching and it creates an environment of positive feedback for the doer as well as the listener.
I think we could all benefit from being in a daily environment that includes discussion of what positive things we have done and hope to do in the future.
What do you think?
