Two atoms are walking down the street.  One turns to the other and says, “I think I’ve lost an electron.”  The second one says, “Are you sure?”  The first replies, “Yes, I’m positive.”

I was having a cup of coffee outside this morning, and started to think about positivity.  (It’s funny how often coffee in the morning leads to positivity…)  A while back Lisa had me watch a TED talk by Shawn Achor.  There are a lot of entertaining TED talks, but I have to say Shawn’s was one of the funniest I’ve seen.  He barely touched on the subjects of his research, but it intrigued me enough to get his book, The Happiness Advantage, where he delves into all the actions he discussed in much more detail.

Unlike getting distracted by a 12 minute video online, it’s been over a year since I read his book, so this isn’t a typical book review where I have it at my finger tips and am quoting passages from it.  I almost think this is better.  Rather than just relaying the highlights that grab you at the time, this is what has stuck with me over the long haul.  Top of the list deals with perception.  We’ve been conditioned by the entire evolutionary process to focus on threats.  Ancient people who focused on the pretty bush and failed to see the wild animal hiding behind it ended up as dinner, not as our ancestor.  Nowadays our threats are different, but we still focus on the negative.

Shawn proposes an exercise to counteract this negative focus, and it’s really quite simple.  Each evening, write down three positive encounters that you had that day.  They don’t have to be earth-shattering; it could be something as simple as a person who waited and held a door for you.  By forcing yourself to search through the day’s events and pick out positive aspects, you train yourself to recognize them more readily.

To be honest, I only managed to stick to this exercise for a few weeks, but it was enough to change my outlook.  Every day after work I ride home via the King Street protected bike lane.  Invariably I encounter at least one car blocking the bike lane, waiting to turn onto the road and completely oblivious that they are in anyone’s way.  Previously I’d get home and rant about how car drivers are so inconsiderate and self important that they can’t wait in the driveway or parking lot until traffic clears.  However, after making an effort to notice positive things, I began to see the many other drivers who did wait outside of the bike lane.  Or, almost showing more awareness and consideration, the drivers who mistakenly pull into the bike lane and then back up out of the way when they see you approaching and realize that they are in the way.  In fact, it turns out the majority of traffic is very aware of and considerate of cyclists.  Now I get home and am upbeat because I remember the guy who waved back at me when I waved thanks for yielding right of way when turning, rather than stewing about the one person who didn’t and caused me to swerve to avoid a collision.  (Oddly specific example?  Yeah, that was yesterday.)

This is the takeaway that I hope you leave with:  don’t focus on the rotten apples, whether they be people driving cars or people riding bikes.  Just as there are many drivers consciously looking out for you for every one who is oblivious, there are many cyclists riding properly and obeying the rules for every one who thinks the traffic laws don’t apply to him.  Start to take note of the positive encounters on your commute, and see how different you feel once you get home.  Oh, and old jokes help, too.  Even if all you get is a groan, it’ll be worth it.  I’m positive.