Contagion

There are studies on the contagious effect that can occur when a famous person dies by suicide. When Kurt Cobain died by suicide and left behind a poetic letter that romantically explained the reasons for his decision, the suicide rate in the United States and Canada increased by 30% during the following six months. As a result of these phenomena, guidelines and regulations were later established in North America to avoid presenting suicide in the media in a way that could make it appear attractive or almost “heroic.”

A similar effect can occur with other life events. When a magazine publishes the divorce of a famous Hollywood couple, for example, divorce rates can also increase significantly.

All of these phenomena have been studied statistically. And if you ever wonder how much impact one of your gestures can have —a gesture of generosity or a gesture of selfishness— my answer is: a great deal.

Because even if you are not famous, you are “the known person” in someone else’s life: your neighbor, your sibling, your children, or the people around you.

If you promote the idea of not paying taxes, that influences others. If you present divorce as the only possible solution, you transmit something. If you say that you cannot stand elderly people, that also leaves a mark.

But contagion works in the other direction as well. If you are a serious person who values intellectual growth, if you are loving and gentle with your children, if you show generosity and acts of greatness, you can inspire others too.

That is why, even if you do not usually think about it, your life extends beyond yourself. It is not as entirely “yours” as you may believe. Your life can become a path toward destruction or a path toward growth for others. The weight of each of your gestures is much greater than you imagine.

I know you do not want to take responsibility for other people’s decisions, and you should not. But the reality is that people are watching you. For them, you can be either a lighthouse that guides the way or a hole that makes the path more difficult.

What you choose to spread depends on you.