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Hear me talk about my desire to promote positivity and overall do-goodery on the Hello Harrisonburg podcast!
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I have a theory - one that I've decided to call the goodness multiplier.
The goodness multiplier hasn't been scientifically tested, but I know in my heart of hearts that it's real. If I were Carl Linnaeus encountering the goodness multiplier organism in the wild, its taxonomy would include a lot of the Golden Rule, some Behavioral Psychology, a sprinkle of Emily Post, a pinch of pop culture Pay It Forward, a healthy dose of Random Acts of Kindness, a touch of economic theory of multipliers, and a smattering of butterflies flapping their wings.
The gist is that by doing and being good, we create net goodness for the world. It is goodness that wasn't there before we made an intentional choice to be or do good, and the effects of that good will ripple forth and inspire more good. In short, more good is better.
Of course, we're not always going to get it right. Some days we're going to be PMS-ing, raging lunatics with no desire to help anyone else on this self-centered, ungrateful planet. That's cool. This is a journey. Depending on the moment, we're all at a different place. But no matter where we're standing, if we intentionally choose to do or be good, we're all better off for it.
This site is arranged around 6 core topics o' good.
The goodness multiplier hasn't been scientifically tested, but I know in my heart of hearts that it's real. If I were Carl Linnaeus encountering the goodness multiplier organism in the wild, its taxonomy would include a lot of the Golden Rule, some Behavioral Psychology, a sprinkle of Emily Post, a pinch of pop culture Pay It Forward, a healthy dose of Random Acts of Kindness, a touch of economic theory of multipliers, and a smattering of butterflies flapping their wings.
The gist is that by doing and being good, we create net goodness for the world. It is goodness that wasn't there before we made an intentional choice to be or do good, and the effects of that good will ripple forth and inspire more good. In short, more good is better.
Of course, we're not always going to get it right. Some days we're going to be PMS-ing, raging lunatics with no desire to help anyone else on this self-centered, ungrateful planet. That's cool. This is a journey. Depending on the moment, we're all at a different place. But no matter where we're standing, if we intentionally choose to do or be good, we're all better off for it.
This site is arranged around 6 core topics o' good.
- Good dirt addresses the good that comes from thinking of the earth as a partner in our good efforts. I want all of us to succeed in being happy and healthy co-residents on the third rock from the sun. In this section, you can expect some musings on sustainability, gardening, nature, etc. We share this earth with a whole lot of organisms, and should act accordingly.
- Good living is my take on all things home - good housekeeping, organization, and setting up rooms that make you smile. People routinely describe a clean home as "therapeutic," "relaxing," and "motivating." Think of how much easier it is to do good in the world when that is your starting point!
- Good news - Too much bad news gets me down, so I've tuned out. While I really enjoy the view from under my rock, I know that there's an important flip side to the bad news that many people don't talk about. The flip side is the good news. There are people who commit their lives to eradicating childhood cancer. There are people who advocate for orphans, and build loving families because their advocacy compels action. There are people who set up a free meal coordination website because they understand the supportive power of food during times of crisis and celebration. Instead of focusing on tragedy, these people are committed to doing good. That's the sort of stuff that should dominate the 24-hour news cycle.
- Good times - Throwing parties stresses some people out. I am not one of those people. While I like to do it up and go overboard, the point to explore for this site is really the mentality of hospitality. Hospitality is the friendly and generous reception of others - of people other than yourself. Hospitality is foundational in building relationships, and relationships are critical to make the goodness multiplier work. Don't let the good stop with you - live your life hospitably (no decadent soirees required), and you'll find that what goes around comes around in a really good way.
- Good behavior - We live in a time where acting like a jackass can easily get you 15 minutes of fame. Civility is thrown out the window on a regular basis, and we find ourselves surrounded by rude curmudgeons who just make everyone feel bad. Enough. I know I can't make the human waste pit of internet comment trolls go away, but at the very least I can smile and be pleasant to customer service professionals. And I can encourage you to do the same thing. "Please" and "thank you" are still magic words, I promise.
- Do-goodery - Every community is replete with examples of people doing great things. They put in long hours, dedicate hard-fought resources, and work their fingers to the bone to make the world a better place. I celebrate such people, and I encourage you to take up their example and make some little corner of the world a little bit brighter.
This project is about more than behavior - it is an exercise in goodness.
It is a journey to cultivate a self-orientation toward being grateful, empathetic, prosocial, mindful, and intentional.
It is an opportunity to practice daily rituals that make my and other's time on this planet more meaningful.
I hope you choose to play along with me. By focusing on the good we can do together, we'll make a difference.
The Goodness Multiplier:
Fact.
It is a journey to cultivate a self-orientation toward being grateful, empathetic, prosocial, mindful, and intentional.
It is an opportunity to practice daily rituals that make my and other's time on this planet more meaningful.
I hope you choose to play along with me. By focusing on the good we can do together, we'll make a difference.
The Goodness Multiplier:
Fact.
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