Maybe your parents said it. Maybe it was on a poster at your school. Maybe it’s a peeling bumper sticker on the side of your coworker’s computer monitor. Wherever it was or is, you’ve probably seen or heard this adage (or a variation of it):
“Attitudes are contagious. Make yours worth catching.”
It’s easy to pass over such a trite statement, and it might make teenagers roll their eyes and disgruntled coworkers mutter under their breath, but it really does contain a powerful truth: attitude is contagious.
A variation of the same saying is this: “A healthy attitude is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” Influencer Michell C. Clark expands on this same idea with the following affirmation:
“Negativity is contagious. Unhappiness is contagious. Fear is contagious. But so is optimism. So is happiness. So is love. Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. And strive to be a reflection of what you want to receive.”
Similar to the principle of the “Golden Rule,” (treat others as you want to be treated), the outlook and attitude you put into the world should “be a reflection of what you want to receive.” Likewise, the outlook and attitude you desire for yourself should be reflected in the people with whom you choose to spend time.
Remember, attitudes are not only contagious, they are also adjustable. The one you have can be changed. You can be intentional and purposeful in nurturing a positive outlook, and you can be intentional and purposeful in surrounding yourself with the people who help you achieve and maintain a healthy attitude.
As Michell C. Clark said, negativity, unhappiness, and fear are contagious, as are optimism, happiness, and love. You get to choose your contagion. You get to choose what you “catch” and what you pass on to others. So make your choice—today, tomorrow, and every day—to be what you want to see more of in the world.
