Human behavior is driven by two different forms of energy: optimism and pessimism. Optimism is the belief that good will come from trying and difficult circumstances. Pessimism is the opposite: the tendency to focus entirely on the negative aspect of things.

Now, think about this for a second—over 7 billion human beings inhabit Earth. Each one of them shares an experience or belief with at least one other person on the planet. Not one of the 7 billion people on Earth, however, shares the exact same perspective as someone else. There is no possible way for that to be the case. One person is not the exact same person as another. In other words, we are all unique. As cliched as it may be, it really is true.

This brings up an interesting dynamic about humanity. Some people are happy, content or at least satisfied with the hand life has dealt them. Unfortunately, the rest are less than pleased with what they endure, and many of them feel as if nothing can possibly go right. It is the pessimistic versus the optimistic.

Optimism is also contagious, but having it contaminate your system is exactly what you want. Glimpses of happiness, ranging from smiles to laughs to hugs to kisses, are everywhere. Those who are pessimistic will frown upon those who are happy, merely because of their possession of happiness. These dark feelings of resentment, anger, and pain are displayed every day, and negative energy is doing its magic. Shootings, beatings, shouting matches, and even a simple frown are signs that pessimism is in the air. It is poisonous and contagious.

I believe that is the most fundamental and emphatic flaw humans face today: the overwhelming lack of companionship. Hundreds of millions of years ago, the earliest humans would rely on each other to survive. Their animal-like instincts instructed them to stick together and use one another for support and guidance. As the eons passed by, though, humans became more sophisticated and intelligent. Eventually, they split into small groups, and as the population grew, they split into smaller groups to showcase their independence. Now it is alarmingly common to just ignore other people.

Of course, it would be unreasonable to believe that each person in the entire human race, consisting of over 7 billion people, could help or even know every other person alive. I am insisting, however, that humbleness, kindness, and sympathy are the key to a happier world.

Smile at a stranger if you happen to make eye contact with one another. Be generous and offer even the most random of people a piece of your snack. Ask the shy girl sitting in the corner for at lease one dance. Donate just one dollar at Mass for the greatest of causes.

There is so much you can do to turn someone's day around, and it may not even take any sort of effort whatsoever. Everyone is unique, but not everyone is happy with where life has them. Optimism is the absolute best disease, so help spread it across humanity and let it contaminate the planet.