Can positivity ever go viral?

Negativity diffuses significantly farther and faster than positivity. Yet, with active goodwill, we can very well spread positivity. “A lie”, said Mark Twain “can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” Indeed, in our age of social media, negativity has acquired accelerated speed to spread, and takes no time to become viral.

Be it misinformation, disinformation, or hate news, we see, with surprise and unease, the way they travel. At the same time, we get upset with the difficulty positivity encounters to radiate itself. Here, it is instructive to first understand some basic characteristics of negativity. Negativity is light, moves up and around fast. On the other hand, positivity has weight and depth. It remains low, moves slow. Negativity is spicy. False news, for instance, triggers excitement, surprise or disgust, prompting gossip and rumours, for a longer period.

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Positivity is plain, and at best, just generates a short-term feel-good factor of happiness, hope or trust. Negativity has nuisance value and causes immediate harm. Embedded with “negative bias,” our brains are wired to pay more attention to negative stimuli. Negativity, thus, can disturb us immediately. As a benign force, positivity takes time to assimilate and flourish. Negativity comes naturally.

Nobody, for example, teaches us how to be jealous or angry. But we need to cultivate positive traits like calmness, civility, or kindness. No surprise, armed with these traits, negativity diffuses significantly farther and faster than positivity. Overwhelming us easily, it does not need any extra support to get peddled or to find momentum. Be it negative validation by others or negative life events, they all affect us, invite our stronger reaction, and stay with us for long. Negative experiences take an extra toll. It is a wishful thinking that we can escape negativity. In fact, negativity is an important part of our emotional architecture. Further, all emotions, negative or positive, are basically information or alerts. Quality of our interactions, actions and, even our progress, are shaped by our good and bad feelings.

By trying to escape, conceal, and avoid negative states, we may miss out on valuable cues and information. Clearly, we need to work hard on positivity, while limiting the adverse impact of negativity. To spread positivity, we need to work on two fronts – on the self, and on the ecosystem around us. Most of the time we get so mired in and disoriented with negativity that we hardly have time, energy or focus to set our mind for positive thinking. So, as a starting point, we first need to learn to discard or adequately handle the pain of negative emotions.

We all know how Lord Rama kept his unwavering positive mindset even though his environment was chaotic, unfair, and filled with adversity. Even while heading for a 14-year exile, and during his stay in the forest, he did not forget his sense of duty, and demonstrated supreme positive qualities of self-control, equipoise, fair-play, and compassion. Heartwarming stories around characters like Nishadraj, Shabari and Sugriva in the Ramayana exemplify the point that whatever the circumstances, it is possible to grow a lotus of positivity even in the mud of negativity. Further, we can contribute – consciously and intentionally – in a variety of constructive ways.

Making others happy, for instance, is a way that not only is personally rewarding but also can create a positive atmosphere of trust, empathy, and kindness. There is positivity everywhere, we need to touch it by touching people’s lives and spreading the smell of humanity. Goodness always brings forth goodness in return. Here, Lord Buddha’s teachings and practices can also show the way. Through his principles of love and compassion (Karuna), Buddha aimed for a harmonious society.

He propounded the practice of universal love or “metta” (maitri in Sanskrit) as an antidote to hatred, anger, and selfishness. Cultivated through meditation, sending specific, positive wishes to oneself and others, the Buddhists practise loving-kindness, a cultivated mental state of unselfish, universal benevolence, and active goodwill toward all beings. While social media is berated for making negativity viral, the same platform can act as a force for good, to spread cheer and foster fraternity. Prioritizing heartwarming and empowering posts, aiming to uplift and inspire others, disseminating factual, accurate and positive news with friends and followers, are some other ways we can leverage it purposefully.

Beyond social media too, we can support the communities and institutions engaged in activities that promote social good, directly or indirectly. Sports, cultural events and festivals, music, yoga and spirituality are some notable ways that can foster a feel-good factor, bonhomie, and fraternity. Take sports, for instance. Recently, there were news reports of how, in a conflict zone like Manipur, Meiteis and Kukis, arch-rivals for long, united on a football field under Operation Sadbhavana (goodwill), an Indian Army initiative. This showcases a scenario that demonstrates that, beyond the virtual world, online toxic drama, political games, or media hype, it is possible to nurture a positive, healthier, and fulfilling life offline, in the real world.

(The writer is a former banker, and presently a corporate director.)