Emotional riches

The radio was playing an interview of writer and columnist David Brooks. When he used the words – AA have a saying fake it to make it, I pricked my ears up and listened more intently. He’d written a book about emotions and happiness. He was saying that even up to the age of 80+ a person can change their behaviour.

The interviewer asked, what’s the most important thing you can change?

Learn to empathise. People who attend a “club” once a month where you listen to other people and try to understand where they are coming from become happier. In fact this behaviour provides the same level of emotional happiness as doubling your income!

I’ve often said that for me the promise that the meetings would change my life beyond my wildest dreams came true. Some people disagree and ask me to quantify it. I can’t, but “feel” that it’s true. The old me would have ridiculed many of the greatest treasures I value today. Would the old me have traded my riches for doubling their income – sure he would. Would he be richer?