People Like Happy People

Summary

Julius Evans conducts a social experiment by smiling at strangers in a mall, revealing that happiness is contagious and can positively affect others.

Abstract

In an enlightening exploration of human interaction, Julius Evans recounts his impromptu social experiment at a busy mall, where he simply smiled at passersby. His observations highlight the power of a smile in eliciting positive reactions, even from those initially appearing unhappy or grumpy. The experiment demonstrates that happiness often lies just beneath the surface and can be easily brought forth, suggesting that people inherently prefer and are drawn to happy individuals. Evans encourages readers to engage in similar acts of kindness, predicting that a simple smile can significantly improve someone's day. The article concludes with a call to action for readers to try this approach and share their experiences.

Opinions

Evans believes that his random act of smiling at strangers can have profound effects, akin to handing out cash.
He notes that some individuals may have questioned his intentions or mental state, yet he did not encounter any negative reactions.
The author suggests that people are generally receptive to happiness and can't help but smile back, indicating that happiness is infectious.
Evans' experiment shows that people want to be happy and that it often doesn't take much to lift their spirits.
He opines that people are naturally attracted to happy people and that sharing in someone else's happiness is a universal desire.
The article implies that non-verbal cues, such as smiling and eye contact, can bridge the gap between strangers and foster a sense of connection.

A Random Thought that Turned into a Sharable Story

I really should have been a psychologist. I sometimes try these random experiments without any forethought or even afterthought. I just do them at a moment’s notice and watch for reactions.

I was in a fairly busy mall. People must have thought I was crazy or maybe even retarded. Oh, can I say that word these days? Ummm, mentally challenged, yeah, that’s what I’ll say. But I don’t know why they would think that and further, no one made me feel that way.

Here’s what I did.

As I walked past people, I simply smiled at them. A big toothy smile. I locked eyes, but I didn’t say a word. The reactions I got were so funny.

You know how you can tell if someone is having a bad day or if they are just being a little grumpy? It doesn’t take long to pick up on it. But they didn’t escape.

As I walked past these people, some were already happy, and they immediately returned a smile. Some seemed like they wanted to engage in conversation, but I kept it moving. Some wanted to hang on to their trauma, but how could they in the face of a smile? Almost everyone locked eyes back and smiled at me in return.

It was like I was handing out cash. The results were truly phenomenal. It’s something you really should try.

I know some of the people I encountered may have said that famous statement under their breath, “What the fuck is he looking at?” And stirring at someone is a time-honored traditional way to pick a fight. Those stirs, however, are never accompanied with a smile.

Conclusion

My impromptu experiment netted some pretty awesome results. It showed me that people, in general, want to be happy and there’s a layer of happiness just below the surface. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to bring it to the top.

It also showed me that people genuinely like happy people. When you see someone with a smile on their face, you automatically feel their happiness. You want to share in their happiness. You want to know the punchline. Happiness is contagious.

So, I want you to try this. The next time you are in a public place, give out a few smiles. You don’t have to have a conversation; you don’t have to stop. Just smile at a person and lock eyes but keep it moving. Someone you meet who may be having a bad day might just do well if he or she were given a smile.

Watch what happens and report back here to me.

About the Author

Julius Evans is a 3X Top Writer on Medium in Reading, Music, and Movies. He is also a Senior Editor for Illumination Integrated Publications. He has a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI; a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ; a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from City University, Bellevue, WA, and an Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas. He is a 1985 graduate of the Defense Information School (DINFOS) of Print and Electronic Journalism and Advanced Public Affairs. DINFOS was relocated from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, IN, to its current location at Fort George Meade, MD.

Writing and Self-Exploration

People Like Happy People

A Random Thought that Turned into a Sharable Story

Here’s what I did.

Conclusion

About the Author

Get an email whenever Julius Evans publishes.

Get an email whenever Julius Evans publishes. By signing up, you will create a Medium account if you don't already have one…

Join Medium with my referral link - Julius Evans

As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…