Why Positivity Breeds Positivity? Although the name speaks for itself, it can never truly encapsulate all that it means, because for each individual who reads that simple phrase, there is an equal amount of emotions it evokes. For some, it might simply mean that an act or event of positivity will likely incite another act of equal or greater positive impact. For others the message might evoke a sense of repetitiveness, why doesn’t the message simply say positivity instead of adding “breeds positivity”. For the latter I have a simple answer, when we made the conscious decision to look for the positives in life they seemed to multiply, and multiply faster and faster the more you looked. So why not say adding positivity will create more positivity? Well we did, and that’s why we're here.
The message originated in what some might consider a very unlikely place— a division III lacrosse field. I know what you're thinking, how does a brand that focuses on spreading positivity originate in a field where men, well let's be honest… very immature boys, go to throw around a ball and hit each other with six foot long metal poles? Well, to be factually accurate, there wasn’t any contact going on when the phrase came slipping out of my mouth because instead of playing the game I had loved for many years, we were actually in the middle of a rather grueling conditioning session. I don’t remember exactly when it came to my mind but all I do know is that I LOATHED conditioning. No matter if it was on my own personal time or guided by coaches, who needed lazy gents like myself to get in shape to play, I could never find any motivation to do it when the time came.
Now to set the scene as to who I was during this time, I was not very enthusiastic about running or participating in conditioning and would often complain and moan to my fellow teammates during the very “festive” activities. However, on this day, for some unknown reason, doing quite possibly my least favorite activity, I was quite chipper and was enjoying myself as I was surrounded by some of my best friends. Well, as we were running up, down, left, right, around, and through the field, I began to see that many of my teammates were starting to take my usual position on such activities, heads down, murmuring of a mutiny, and some stern faces. On almost any other day, I would have been happy to dive into the doom and gloom littered all over the field. But not that day. I had an unusual surge of energy and, as we were in the thick of the running, I began to speak to my friends who were closest to me. I kept repeating that we needed to stay positive because whether we’re frustrated, angry, or happy we are not leaving this field until our legs feel like pool noodles. Wouldn’t we rather be smiling and laughing through it?
So after a few laps of slowly spreading the positive message amongst the ranks of our players, I began to speak louder and before I knew it I just kept repeating myself like a broken record, “come on guys this is great, positivity breeds positivity!” I remember laughing and running, which made the running significantly more difficult, but somehow much more manageable. I know for a fact some of my teammates were well annoyed with me and just wanted to get the work done and go home, but I did notice that a few of them stopped staring at the grass and starting smiling, who knows why, but they were smiling, and that was all that mattered. And thus Positivity Breeds Positivity was born, just four years ago on a field full of sweaty, immature, boys just trying to get in shape to play the game they loved.
Although the message started four years ago, it has become much more than a rallying cry to get through some tough conditioning. Those three simple words have managed to seep into nearly every aspect of my life and the lives of those around me. I remember in the weeks after that first conditioning training, I began to use the phrase often in practices and games— and I felt a large weight lifted off my shoulders. The anger and frustration playing sports can give to an individual can lead to an inner conflict of confidence, where the bad weighs you down and somehow the positives, doing something you love, seems to fade away. The simple switch of consciously saying those three words throughout the course of a practice or a game allowed me to focus on the here and now, not the been and gone. Celebrating your teammates during the highs and picking them up in the lows helped build a sense of security. No matter what you did, or what happened, we could always bounce back and do it again together. The more positive we were with each other, the better we played. A microcosm of what the phrase is made to do, focus on the good and the negative will fade into the background.
Beyond the scope of sports, the foundation of the phrase, it managed to permeate into my everyday life. I became infatuated with the phrase and began to use it in labs, study rooms, and really anywhere I felt I, and those around me, needed a boost of positive energy. The phrase was coming out of my mouth about half the time I was thinking it. I could not stop myself from finding every excuse to use it. Late night homework sessions seemed to be where the phrase began to find its footing. I would be sitting there well past a normal bed time with a few other guys just trying to meet the deadlines given to us by our professors and, without a doubt, every person in that room had waited until the last dying hours to finalize their work. You know how it goes… college. Without much warning or any provocation, I would blurt out the phrase “POSITIVITY BREEDS POSITIVITY” to try and give myself a boost to push forward and get the work done. As if the fifth cup of coffee sitting next to my computer wasn’t enough. Although the guys I was sitting with most likely thought I was crazy or just downright annoying, it helped me persevere and it continued to do so every time I “forgot” about a deadline.
My fascination with the phrase and its mythical capabilities expanded beyond the reach of school and athletics, and into my personal relationships. As with every person, we are individuals and each individual has a unique path that has put them in your life and, without asking or being told, you will never know what an individual is harboring inside of them. From a very early age, I have been in touch with my emotional side more than most around me. This undoubtedly stems from my amazing mother, who was adamant about speaking your mind and getting emotions off your chest because before long that weight would be heavy enough to affect your ability to breathe. I firmly believe that.
So, as many people do, I would talk and converse with close friends about anything and everything that could be bothering them, me, or us and almost by routine, I would always find a way to plant those three simple words in nearly every conversation. I know it's repetitive and can become quite annoying when used frequently, but it works. And when you find something that works you should hold onto it. I felt myself believing more and more in those words as weeks, months, and years passed. It was almost always on my mind, trying to focus on the good and spread the good. Everytime it wasn’t on my mind, I would revert back to the immature and repugnant way of thinking that allowed negativity to find its way inside and infest your mind, body, and soul, and ultimately affect the way you live everyday.
Who wants to walk around in this alluring and bright world being distracted by negativity? The answer for me, no thank you. I would much rather walk around lighter and happier, focusing my time and efforts on looking for, and applauding, the good that is littered in every corner of our existence. Positivity is always one thought away, no matter who or where you are in the world. Your mind is so powerful that simply focusing on positives will drastically change the way you feel, act, and think. The power of positivity is the power of perspective. You have the amazing capability to decipher the endless amount of information encountered throughout a day, and it is up to you, and only you, to decide which information you focus on.
As conscious humans, we have a choice to live a life that uplifts others and shows them the endless possibilities it provides. It is up to you to choose between letting negativity strip you of a life that could have been, or let positivity lead you into a life beyond your wildest of dreams. Our purpose is simple: spread a message that has a profoundly affirmative impact on everyone that sees it. A daily reminder that the life you wish so deeply for, is one mere positive thought away from getting that much closer to reality.
From Your Friends at PBP!