Many   suns ago, I lived in Berlin for about a year.

I was lucky enough to get a research grant for my arcane Kant research. At the time, I was investigating his views on the possibility of thought, experience and morality.

I even got a Professor at the Humboldt University, a surprisingly chill German dude named Tobias to be my host and invite me to his weekly colloquium in German philosophy.

It was a great experience for me in many ways.

I got a chance to do philosophy among a very different kind of community. In which I presented two papers that were very well received.

I had to navigate all the German bureaucracy (and so practice my German a TON).

But more than that.

I used my time there as an opportunity to grow up in some key ways.

After almost five years of my whole life being basically nothing but philosophy (in philosophy grad school), I started opening up to new experiences.

To new dimensions of life.

I grew as a person in ways that I'm really grateful for.

It wasn't always easy. I had to put myself out of my comfort zone.

But by doing so continuously, I was rewarded with magical experiences and insights.

One of the most powerful experiences of this kind I lived while I was in Berlin was in some ways incredibly simple.

It essentially forced me to look people in the eye,  to smile widely at them, and to greet them with a genuine "Hi!"

Don't get me wrong. It wasn't always a smooth experience.

Especially at first, it could be awkward.

I wasn't used to interacting with strangers at all.

I was mostly used to just being with my thoughts and with other philosophers.

But....

Much to my surprise...

It was also surprisingly easy for one to have a really heartwarming and genuine interaction with a stranger.

The kind of genuine if minor interaction that can turn someone's day around.

By pushing myself

I learned that if you make an effort to recognize the common humanity in other people's eyes.

If you make an effort to reach out with positivity and Genuinely Connect. Even for an instant.

It resonates with people.

People feel it.

People smile wide, almost surprised sometimes.

Some would even stop by and chat with me for a bit.

Like a dude from Provence in France who was so surprised to learn that I was a Mexican philosopher working in Berlin that he opened up his backpack, took out two glasses and a bottle of wine out of there and insisted we sit at a table and discuss Montaigne (this was clearly the time before the pandemic).

Most interactions were shorter than this. But no less sweeter.

I could tell often that their day got better just from our small, kind interaction. I would see them approach with a heavy, furrowed brow, and see their faces light up into a light and open smile.

And that would, in turn, leave me with a distinct heartwarming feeling of joy.

This is one key lesson that I teach my happiness coaching clients.

Not only that by pushing yourself out of your comfort zone you can grow.

But that by reaching out to the world with confidence and positivity, you can put out a lot of good into the world.

And you can fill up your everyday life full of pockets of such joyful and meaningful interaction. 

With strangers and loved ones.

So, if you're ready to build a happier life and a happier world in this hectic and complicated time, check it out!

 

To Your Smiling and Connecting

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Santi Sanchez, Ph.D.

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