Happiness is Contagious

Mar 1, 2025

Recently, I realized I spent a lot of time in my 20’s as an unhappy person. I always set my own mood to the mood of the unhappiest person in the room.

Thus, it compounded – I tended to avoid and push away happy people, even if they put effort into reaching out to me, and I spent more time seeking out other unhappy people. Major negative events in my life would have an unusually high impact on my unhappiness, too, and I found myself surrounded with incredibly negative energy. 

And it’s a little weird. I didn’t see this because for some reason, everyone around me was always so positive. So I just thought I was like them because I acted like them. Internally, I wasn’t.

I never internalized how bad it was. I wish I realized it sooner.

This personal mindset shift didn't happen overnight, of course, but through a series of personal challenges and lifestyle changes over several years.

I realized that a true “Growth Mindset” is not just about embracing challenges, but actively seeking happiness and fulfillment in those challenges. And true leadership with Growth Mindset means authentically exuding happiness and positivity to influence the energy of the people around me.

I realized I could be "trajectory-changing" for the positivity and happiness of other people around me. And, those people gave me active feedback about how good it felt. This was the largest personal unlock for me.

Anecdotally, I’ve realized happy people truly are more determined. They are longer-term thinkers. They are higher agency. They seek each other out to build long-term relationships.

Ever since I realized this, I made it a personal goal to be the high watermark of happiness and positivity in the room. People noticed. It made them happy. It made me happy. It has been working.

If you see me acting negative, just remind me – I made a promise.