Throughout our day we experience a range of situations. Some are major, some are minor and seemingly inconsequential. They can be a net positive, negative, or anywhere in between.

 
Since we are in control of the way we respond we have the ability to do something that can easily get overlooked. Praise the good.

 
If you see a behavior that promotes the type of world or environment you want to live you should applaud it. Share your gratefulness. Even if it’s something you expect to happen.

 
I’d argue because it is something you expect to happen you should go out of your way to praise it. This praise is a positive reinforcement for whoever did that action you were happy to see and now that they got the reward of your “thank you” or smile they will happily continue that action. We love to be positively rewarded for our actions no matter their significance.

 
The trap we can find ourselves in is never showing our appreciation, those actions we welcomed go away, and now we are creating a story in our head that is negative because our world just got a little less bright. The other person had no idea of their impact on your day and since it never resonates with them they stop doing that act of good.

 
So next time you see something that embodies the world you want to live in, praise the good. It can be your wife picking up the kids’ toys, the neighbor shoveling the snow on the shared sidewalk, or a coworker cleaning up after working in the lab. It can be the mundane, the expected, or critical actions. Extend the positivity.

 
Oh, and lead by example.