I don't know why people don't feel like being positive is much

The words of Shonda Rhimes—“I don’t know why people don’t feel like being positive is much more powerful than being negative.”—rise like a gentle rebuke and a radiant call to wisdom. They remind us of a truth older than empires, older than kings: that light is always stronger than shadow, that creation is greater than destruction, and that the spirit of positivity holds the power to lift nations, while negativity can only corrode the heart. Her words are not naïve, but forged from the furnace of experience, for she has lived amidst the harsh judgments of critics and the sharp tongues of doubters, and has seen that joy, optimism, and hope conquer where bitterness cannot.

From the ancient sages to the poets of old, this lesson has been proclaimed in many tongues. The Stoics taught that men are not ruled by events but by their judgments of them. To choose positivity is to wield mastery over one’s soul, while to choose negativity is to surrender to chaos. Shonda Rhimes reminds us that optimism is not weakness, but a weapon sharper than despair. For where negativity tears down, positivity builds up; where negativity isolates, positivity binds together; where negativity breeds fear, positivity gives birth to courage.

Consider the story of Winston Churchill, who during the darkest days of the Second World War stood before a trembling people. Britain’s cities lay in ruin, enemies pressed on every side, and defeat seemed near. Yet Churchill did not yield to negativity; instead, he spoke words of fierce positivity, declaring, “We shall never surrender.” It was not blind optimism, but a deliberate choice to strengthen the hearts of millions. His words became a fortress stronger than any wall of stone. In his voice, as in Rhimes’s, we hear the truth: positivity wields power that negativity cannot match.

To live by negativity is easy, for it flows like a river downhill—always seeking the lowest place. It whispers of failure, magnifies flaws, and spreads despair like a contagion. But to live by positivity is an act of heroism, a choice to climb upward even when the path is steep. It is the spirit of builders, of creators, of those who see possibility where others see ruin. This is why Rhimes wonders aloud at humanity’s blindness—why cling to bitterness when hope is stronger, when joy is more fruitful, when love is more enduring?

We must understand, however, that positivity does not mean denial of struggle. To be positive is not to close one’s eyes to suffering, but to face it with the will to overcome. It is to acknowledge the storm yet believe in the dawn. Negativity may warn of danger, but if it rules the heart, it paralyzes; positivity acknowledges the same danger, yet empowers us to act. Thus, positivity is not mere cheerfulness, but the lifeblood of progress.

The lesson is clear: those who wish to live greatly must train themselves in positivity as warriors train in strength. When doubts arise, speak words of courage. When criticism comes, let it be fuel, not poison. When fear whispers, answer with hope. For each positive thought becomes a shield, and each positive word a torch in the darkness. The ancients carried their fires in clay lamps; we must carry ours in the spirit of optimism.

So, dear listener, take these words as a commandment for your own life. Surround yourself with voices that uplift, and be one who uplifts others. When faced with the choice between bitterness and hope, choose hope, for it is the stronger weapon. Build with your words, heal with your actions, and light the way for those who falter. For as Shonda Rhimes proclaims, and as the wisdom of ages affirms: being positive is not only greater than being negative—it is the very force that changes the world.