Being Positive Is Unpopular

When I was younger, I helped a family member start and run a fitness franchise. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot about business. But I also learned a lot about human nature.

I can remember in the early days, sitting in the office and stressing about getting enough members to join. On a slow day, only a handful of people would stop in and ask about joining.

I would go through the rates and information with them. I would answer their questions and give them a tour. They would typically hem and haw for a bit. Some would take the plunge and commit to getting healthy. Most would need time to think about it and never return.

I would sit in the office confused. They would usually profess to me why they needed to get healthy. Maybe their doctor scared them by saying their health is deteriorating. Maybe they find it difficult to have the energy to play with their children. Regardless, they always wanted to start exercising but couldn’t seem to make it happen.

Meanwhile, across the street was a fast-food restaurant. I would watch as the drive through was packed all day long. The parking lot was packed. People would come in and grab a bit and easily shell out hard earned money for the food.

At one point, I started to get a bit burnt out about it. Why do they come in and proclaim their desire to get healthy but refuse to do anything positive? Why did it feel as though I had to convince them to join? Yet they will easily spend money on the food that is well known to be unhealthy?

For some reason it is human nature. Human nature isn’t to what we should do but what we want to do. Eating greasy burgers is appealing. Sweating on the treadmill isn’t.

Over the years I’ve realized that this strange avoidance of the positive isn’t just with our activities and food. Most people bond over their shared dislike of another person or group. Often we join together to fight against a common enemy. Even most employees would rather trash their employer than highlight the positives from their employment.

But if we can learn to shed those negative thoughts and find ways to remain positive the benefits are enormous. Most have no idea that their venting session with another employee gets relayed to others and often finds the ears of management. They may not say anything because it is hearsay but as more information gets to them to confirm your negative activities they begin to believe it more and more.

But staying positive also has a similar impact. I’ve noticed that if I compliment someone behind their back in a meeting, it gets back to them, just as if I criticized them.

If we remain positive and work on improving, it may require avoiding the greasy cheeseburger, but we may end up finding a great salad place. For some reason human nature gravitates to the negative but if we can resist that pull and instead look for positive ways to impact the world around us that will come back to us. Life is a reflection back to us so to get positivity coming to you, learn to embrace and radiate that same positive energy.