Surfers know the physiological and psychological benefit of catching a wave. This effect is so powerful that they will enter freezing cold water, which could even contain Great White sharks in order to get it.
Luckily, we have a version of catching and riding a wave which doesn’t require you to have great balance, toned abs, strong shoulders and a lack of fear of our finned friends in the sea. You don’t even have to change clothes or enter the water to get a buzz from this wave.
The wave is something anyone can do at any time to simply and effectively acknowledge the good deeds of another. It is particularly effective when you are not in a position to verbally thank someone, such as when you are trying to enter a stream of traffic and some kind soul leaves a space and waves you in. Another example is when lanes are converging and a zip process is required to seamlessly integrate the two lines, a simple wave once you have been let in goes a long way to improve your day and the day of the receiver.
So how does this work? Showing gratitude and acknowledging good deeds has an immediate effect for both giver and receiver, each gets a boost of the feel good hormones; oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. These hormones are automatically released and even in small quantities will have a positive effect on our mood. It is an even better effect when both parties show appreciation for the others actions.
The really exciting thing is that as many of us start doing this, it has a cumulative effect. Just as acting in a boorish manner can accumulate from situation to situation and person to person as we don’t show appreciation because others didn’t show it to us, so too can acts of gratitude develop into a tsunami sweeping through our community, and all it takes is for each of us to make the first move.
I invite you to dive right in with me and catch the next wave. Imagine the benefits to our community if everyone who reads this column acknowledged good deeds with a word or a wave. Overnight our roads, streets and neighbourhoods would begin to feel warmer, more welcoming and connected, and all it takes is giving a wave to start it all off.