Vantage | How a 'good morning' can change your life

Most people have one thing in common: They feel alone, and the World Health Organisation agrees to it. Last month, the organisation designated loneliness as a global public health concern. Loneliness increases the risk of early death by 39 per cent. It is as damaging as consuming 15 cigarettes or six alcoholic drinks a day. At any given time, loneliness affects one in four people the world over. It shouldn’t be this way, especially because we know what to do about it. The answer is social relationships. The quality of our relationships affects our well-being. They are an overwhelmingly strong indicator of happiness. A hefty body of research has proven this time and again. But there is a blind spot.

Most of these studies look at only close ties like family, friends, and co-workers. In the past two decades, a new area of study has emerged. It looks at something that can complement close relationships — strangers. Scientists have begun to wonder if talking to strangers is good for us too. And the results are striking. A new study is out that says that talking to strangers can lead to greater life satisfaction. Even a simple “good morning” can transform lives. Whether a morning person or not, it can make people feel valued, and that is considered a fundamental human need. But this is not all, several studies show that talking to strangers can make us happier, mentally sharper, healthier, optimistic and more connected. This is true for both parties. Those who initiate the conversation, and those who partake in it. So governments have jumped on this bandwagon too. Last month, a Swedish city introduced the “say hello” campaign with advertisements on buses and workshops in schools. All nudging people to say hello to strangers. Meanwhile, countries like the UK, Sweden, Ireland and Australia have adopted a “Chatty bench”. It is a park bench, where strangers can talk to each other. The campaign is quirky but the idea is simple. Building connections with strangers is important for our social fabric and this is not news. For centuries most religious faiths have had similar messaging to welcome the strangers we encounter. In India, this is the foundation of a unique tradition of hospitality, where no guest is any lesser than God. But the question remains — If talking to strangers is so pleasant — why don’t we do it more often? For starters, two words, “stranger danger”. Over the past few decades, this message has become all the rage across the world. Parents, teachers, police officers, politicians practically everyone set aside their differences and spread the singular rhyming message. They agree that interacting with a stranger could put you at risk. So children are taught never to speak to unknown adults when they become grown-ups themselves. They follow this familiar pattern and before we know it, strangers are cast as a threat. But human beings, by nature, are trusting. If they weren’t, people would never invest in stocks, or use dating apps, or keep their money in banks, or allow their kids to take up gymnastics. Which is why being wary has its perks but doing it indiscriminately becomes a trap. The second reason why we don’t engage with people is technology. It’s a no-brainer. A few years ago, it was impossible to go through life without speaking to strangers. Bus or cab drivers, baristas, receptionists, grocery store cashiers, or just people helping you find your way in a new city. But all that has changed, thanks to third-party shopping and restaurant apps, Uber quiet mode, or cab features that allow you to mute a driver, or, maps on your phone. So tech evolution has made us averse to strangers. With screens substituting for humans. It’s almost dystopian. And it goes against our social contract. Talking to people, even strangers, isn’t just good for us, it is necessary. Taking a leap of faith allowed humans to grow beyond a family unit or a tribe. And, it has done us well so far. So instead of boxing yourself up, take that leap of faith, start a conversation, and see where it takes you. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_’s views._