I want to come across as a positive person.

The words of Greta Scacchi — “I want to come across as a positive person.” — are simple in sound, yet profound in their desire. They reveal the yearning of every soul: to be remembered not for bitterness or complaint, but for light, hope, and strength. To be a positive person is to choose to shape the air around you so that others may breathe easier, to be a source not of weariness, but of encouragement.

Such a longing is not vanity, but virtue. For reputation is more than how one is seen; it is the fragrance of one’s spirit left behind in every meeting. To come across as positive is to recognize that one’s words and deeds ripple outward, touching others in unseen ways. As a flame lights another without losing its own brightness, so too does a cheerful spirit multiply strength in others. This is the sacred responsibility of character: to inspire, not to burden.

The ancients themselves honored this truth. Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-king, wrote that the soul must guard itself against gloom, for bitterness poisons the community like rot in grain. And in the Gospels, it was said that a city set on a hill cannot be hidden; so too a man or woman whose countenance shines with positivity becomes a beacon for others in darkness. To embody light is to serve not only oneself, but all who walk near.

Yet such a choice is not always easy. To be a positive person is not to deny sorrow or weakness, but to carry them with dignity, refusing to let them consume the heart. History remembers Helen Keller, who though struck by blindness and silence, spoke words of joy that continue to inspire generations. She did not pretend life was without struggle, but she chose to turn her trials into a testimony of resilience.

Let the generations remember: greatness is not only in crowns, armies, or achievements, but in the spirit one carries. To be a positive person is to become a source of life to others, to turn despair into encouragement, and to leave behind a legacy not of shadows, but of light. Greta Scacchi’s words, humble though they are, echo this eternal teaching: that how we come across to others is not mere appearance, but the mark of our soul upon the world.