Have I mentioned yet how wonderful you look today? And how you do that cool thing that’s super dope and makes you, you? Well…it’s awesome.

Once upon a time I was a pessimist, and the worst kind too. That was a few years back when there was honestly a whole lot going on in life (like being a teenager) and it didn’t gel well with life to me. There are a lot of factors to it, I’m pretty sure of that. I cannot pinpoint when the shift occurred either, somewhere around senior year of high school and the beginning of sophomore year of college, between that time. Yet, there was a point where I hated being a pessimist, where it felt miserable and frankly: I was done with it. Some pessimist say they’re pessimist so they can’t be disappointed and pleasantly surprised at certain points in life…but as a former pessimist I know that there was more disappointment at that time than any other in my life.

Yes, I realize that I’ve just written the word pessimist a lot in an article about positivity. So, let’s discuss positivity.

Positivity is such an underrated ideal to strive for, especially in a negative-centric society where the first inclination is to point out the weaknesses and flaws of others. Scrolling through social media you’ll see a lot of the negatives in life, with a few of the positive messages being spread on the platforms amongst us. If I’ve ever failed at spreading positive messages or messages of hope in my writings: I’m sorry. I’m not immune to the negative-centric society and I’ve certainly said my share of negative thoughts. Nobody is per se, however, if we can begin focusing on, and living of, positivity we can notice an effect on our lives and the lives of those around us. Perhaps, however naïve this thinking is: we can shift societal norms to focus on the positives of people and life. I grow curious if part of it is due to the competitive nature in Western Culture (specifically: U.S.A.; since I’ve not been outside of it).

I’d love to get older and have kids and have those kids risen in a world where positivity is the norm. Instead of, “they aren’t good enough at football,” we have “they’re good with computers” as the first real thought of a person. When I see someone who’s in a down mood because they’re not doing good at something we’re working on, I simply ask them, “what are you good at?” in order to focus on their strengths and the positives of them. Albert Einstein is accredited for saying, “Everybody is a Genius. But If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid.” We shouldn’t immediately judge a person based on one or two abilities they don’t have…because that is judging a fish on its ability to climb a tree. Somebody may be horrible at football…but a savant with technology.

Instead of the negative-centricity in our society…instead of the dim outlook towards people who don’t immediately impress…seek the positive.

It’s within my belief, entirely opinion, that if we start thinking in a positive light, it encroaches into our mindset and becomes our first reaction. If our first reaction is always going to be to look for the negative…we’re just negative people who look for the same in others. Hurt people, hurt people. Whether that is insecurities, uncertainties or a past that damaged us…seeking the negatives only perpetuates society in the manner it currently resides. Please…look for the positives first. It can help others and can help you. Perhaps, one day, even society as a majority. Because right now it feels like we focus too much on negativity and we should look at the positives in life.

Next time you see someone who may be struggling with a concept or understanding something in life, look for the positives they bring first.