“You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that, I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” - PositLive

In math, adding positive numbers results in an even bigger number. However, the moment we begin to introduce negative numbers, the sum total decreases. This is a basic mathematical concept. And this quote, by Maya Angelou, reminds us that a similar principle applies to life. Who we are is the sum of everything around us. What we see, hear, eat, smell, know, remember–it all adds up to make us think, act, and do things a certain way.

Continuing on with imagining life as an equation, consider how you can make all the things that influence your life more positive. Remember, you don’t necessarily have to do something big (ie. add large numbers into your life equation). If you cant add 100, try just adding 1, which is at least better than -1.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that can begin to make a difference and move life in a more positive direction. So when deciding on something you’re going to do or change, you can ask yourself, ‘Will this be on the positive end of the number line?” “Will it increase or decrease my sum total?”