Every Mood is Contagious

Welcome to The Brighter Side of Everything.

This newsletter serves a simple purpose → To help you build optimism, resilience and a solution-focused perspective.

Each week, I’ll share actionable insights that not only brighten your day but position you to be a leader within your own life and seize life’s opportunities.

Read time: 15-20 minutes.

Hello, Brighter Side readers! ☀️

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

I’m excited to share this week’s edition with you.

Here in Toronto, the leaves are beginning to turn, signalling my favourite time of year:

This week, we’re talking about how every mood is contagious, and the simple things you can do to create a more uplifting space for both yourself and those around you.

We also learn the incredible story of Vera Rubin and introduce you to a masterful YouTube channel for those that are keen to better understand their body.

Wherever you are in the world I wish you an optimistic, solution focused week.

See you on the Brighter Side,

Chris

P.S. Please feel free to send me feedback on how I can improve. I respond to every email.

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Emotions spread fast.

Ever walk into a room and feel the mood hit you before anyone said a word?

It doesn’t matter if it’s joy, tension or apathy.

Many people catch them without even knowing.

It’s like when somone yawns and the urge spreads through others close by.

This phenomenon, known as emotional contagion, highlights how interconnected we are as social beings.

Our brains are wired to pick up on subtle cues from those around us, allowing us to empathise and respond accordingly.

I want to let you in on a secret though.

The energy swirling around in any setting isn’t fixed.

With the right mix of self-awareness, empathy and a sense of humour, anyone can shift what’s happening.

My Dad lived this, and it’s a gift I’m still learning to make better use of each day.

Growing up, I would often see Dad work his magic.

One minute he was the jokester, the next, a silent support.

He could sense the mood, lean in and change things for the better.

What seemed almost mystical to me as a kid turned out to be a rare skill.

The ability to pause, observe and respond in a way that made everyone feel seen.

Truth is, most folks don’t do this.

They’re locked into their own moment, hardly ever aware of the currents flowing just beneath the surface.

That pause, the split second where observation leads to real connection, is where the magic starts to take hold.

Early on in my leadership career, I was handed a tool that added structure (almost like a language) to what I’d watched Dad do so well.

The above and below the line model was simple and transformative, empowering me to put this skill into action myself.

It’s a simple way to check the story you’re telling yourself in any moment:

There’s nothing wrong with dropping below the line at times.

We all do it.

We all get tired, we all have frustrations.

The key is recognising when you do, and knowing what it takes to drag you back above it.

What I love about this model is how visual and practical it is.

It’s a compass for recognising where you’re at in your own mood, and with experience, you learn the small moves needed to recalibrate.

I can recall sitting in countless meetings, feeling myself drift below the line.

Frustrated, defensive, ready to blame external circumstances or others.

The magic moment is the pause (the awareness) to choose.

This awareness won’t change everything instantly, but it does open the door to possibility.

With practice it becomes second nature.

When you’re above the line, you’re not just bettering yourself.

You can influence an entire room with your energy.

Below the line, you’re adding to the static.

The ability to tune in to your emotions and correct course is the leadership (and human superpower) that people around you will never forget.

Emotional contagion is a proven concept that psychology backs up.

Our moods are social.

They travel through groups quickly and often subconsciously, moving through a crowd like a whisper in the wind.

These subtle signals and emotions spread from person to person, influencing moods and behaviours without many never fully realising it.

One person’s enthusiasm (or stress) can shift the vibe for everyone.

When someone chooses to spark laughter or offer empathy, that ripple can move mountains.

Making the hardest moments softer and mundane tasks much more memorable.

Pause Before You Speak: Take a breath before jumping into any situation. Notice what’s happening around you. Body language, tone, unsaid words. This is more than avoiding mistakes, it’s showing up with intention.

Dial Up Your Empathy by Listening: Looking beyond your own thoughts and actively listening (sensing what people genuinely need) turns regular interactions into real connections. Sometimes it’s the quiet person in the back who needs a boost, sometimes it’s just naming what you see: “Looks like it’s been a tough morning, huh?” Empathy gives value to everyone present.

Check Your Line: Ask yourself, “Am I above the line right now, or below?” It’s the fastest way to stop drifting on autopilot and reset with intention. Above the line doesn’t require perfection, it’s more about staying open and accountable to yourself. Below the line awareness is your signal to pause, recalibrate and step back into leadership (or life) mode.

Humour, Use It Wisely: Not every moment needs a joke, but when laughter fits, use it to break monotony or bond a group. Humour forms memories and helps learning stick. But don’t force it. Read the room and aim for lightness without creating discomfort. When done right, even boring projects become enjoyable (and information retention improves, too). Most effective? Self deprecating humour, as the only person who can be offended, is you.

Gamify the Grit: Any task (no matter how dull) can be made fun. Challenge yourself or your team, set funny rewards, or turn routine work into games. Even small changes in attitude and approach reshape how people feel and what they remember.

Recognise and Appreciate: A simple thank you or shout-out creates momentum. When people feel seen and celebrated, it’s easier for them to rise to challenges and stay present. Regular appreciation is fuel for positivity and future connection.

If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that moods shape our lives.

Choosing which ones to spread is among the most meaningful acts we can perform.

To pause is to empower yourself and everyone around you, to notice is to connect.

Lifting any moment with humour, empathy, or appreciation will change it for the better.

That above/below the line compass?

It’s more than a leadership hack.

It’s a lens for every interaction, a way to catch yourself before you shift a room (or even your own day) off course.

So, the next time you find yourself feeling stuck, defensive, or just out of sorts, ask which side of the line you’re on.

Then, intentionally choose and watch what happens.

Every mood is contagious.

Consciously deciding which ones you choose to spread is incredibly self-aware.

Even better?

Find a way to laugh about it.

What mood will you choose to spread today?

Want to hear more onabove/below the line? I’ve watched and shared the following video with countless people over the years:

What if the universe wasn’t playing by the rules?

Imagine it’s past midnight and you’re the only one left in the observatory.

Machines hum consistently behind you.

The cold desert air creeps in through the window.

And suddenly you discover your data doesn’t match what any astronomy textbook says should happen.

Most would double-check for errors and call it a night.

Not Vera Rubin.

She looked at her results and thought:

“Maybe the universe is about to get a whole lot stranger.”

Then she followed the bread crumbs, wherever they led.

And science would never be the same.

Rubin did more than revise a few charts, she rewrote the rules of science itself.

At a time when women weren’t allowed into most observatories and her colleagues scrutinised every detail, Rubin kept showing up.

She let curiosity lead her questions and grit fuel her resilience.

This fearless pursuit led to the discovery of dark matter.

You know, the invisible stuff that makes up most of the universe.

A massive history altering discovery.

Anyone who’s experienced feeling underestimated, invisible or outnumbered can draw courage from her inspiring blend of optimism, determination and humour.

Born in 1928 in Philadelphia and raised in D.C., Vera fell in love with the night sky at a young age.

Using a homemade cardboard telescope, she would sketch the stars peering out her bedroom window.

She was the sole astronomy major to graduate from Vassar and was turned away from Princeton's grad program for being a woman.

She never quit though and accelerated her journey at Cornell, balancing family life with studies under Nobel laureates, later achieving her PhD at Georgetown, often bringing her sons to night classes.

Her career was stitched together after bedtime.

Making time while others rested.

Galaxy models at the kitchen table, papers finished when the family was asleep.

In 1965, Rubin became the first woman allowed to observe at California’s Palomar Observatory.

Why?

Simply because she wouldn’t stop asking.

Her breakthrough came when she and Kent Ford mapped how fast stars travel around galaxies.

The answer they unveiled seemed “wrong".

Stars at the edges zipped as quickly as those near the core, defying gravity.

The only explanation?

That galaxies must contain massive amounts of invisible "dark matter" holding everything together.

Years passed as critics shrugged it off, but Rubin’s data started to pile higher than their doubts.

Her findings didn't just change astronomy.

They changed who gets believed.

They challenged existing narratives and amplified marginalised voices, ultimately reshaping societal perception.

What makes Vera Rubin so special isn’t just what she found, but how she searched.

She turned exclusion into inside jokes (drawing a skirt on the men’s bathroom stick-figure), letting her kids scatter punch cards across the living room and always bringing laughter to late-night telescope sessions.

Her focus wasn't self-promotion.

It was building a bigger, brighter field for anyone who was keen to look up at the sky and ask “What if?”

She enjoyed pushing at the edges.

Not just of galaxies but of expectations.

Here’s what Vera’s journey can teach anyone:

Vera Rubin’s legacy is a living reminder that the universe doesn’t reward those who follow old rules just because everyone else does.

Her mix of persistence, kindness and curiosity did more than unlock astronomy’s greatest mysteries.

It expanded the very definition of who gets to discover.

Today, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory (located on a mountainside in Chile) is mapping the sky in ways she once dreamed of.

Her name has been etched on a U.S. quarter and her story inspiring new generations.

For Rubin, breakthroughs weren’t solo achievements.

She mentored young scientists, lifted up overlooked voices and proved that wonder (and a cheeky grin) can move the biggest barriers.

So maybe the universe isn’t what we imagined?

And that’s exactly where the magic is.

Rubin showed us that chasing a “what if,” helping others find their angle and celebrating wonder (even in setbacks) can change everything.

Sometimes, the next revolution starts not with the right answer.

But with the courage to ask daring questions and the heart to keep going when it gets tough.

Want to learn more about Vera? Check out this 4 minute video:

And as a bonus, here are the incredible first images from the Vera Rubin telescope:

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Every so often (amidst all the noise and nonsense that fills up YouTube), you stumble on something genuinely great.

With the sheer amount of garbage out there, I’ve learned to be pretty selective about what I actually sit down to watch.

That’s why finding Thomas Schwenke’s channel felt like a small victory.

My intention was to check out one quick video, but it pulled me right in.

Before long, I realised I’d found a channel that’s both fascinating and totally worth my time.

What hooked me first was a stunning 3D animation showing exactly how the digestive system works.

In recent years I've been paying greater attention to my diet and health and reaping the rewards of doing so.

Seeing the entire process visualised, from first bite to last step was incredibly eye-opening.

You realise just how much teamwork is happening within us at all times to keep everything running smoothly.

Suddenly the phrase “you are what you eat” hits home in a whole new way.

Schwenke takes complex science and makes it completely accessible.

Whether he’s exploring how blood flows through your heart or how muscles flex behind every movement.

Each animation breaks things down clearly, so even topics I used to find dry now feel not just understandable, but fascinating.

I find myself pausing to appreciate the small details.

Rewinding, just to catch what I missed the first time.

I walk away from every video having learned something and with a sense of absolute wonder at how incredible the human body is.

What started as curiosity has honestly changed the way I think about my health.

The more I learn, the more careful (and grateful) I am for everything my body pulls off behind the scenes.

Schwenke’s channel is so much more than education.

It’s a fresh reminder that science and self-care go hand in hand.

The less we understand something the less likely we are to care and the less likely we are to take meaningful action.

When we seek to understand and learn how our bodies connect to our overall well-being, we give ourselves the power to make smarter choices.

Choices that boost our health and improve our quality of life.

Want to learn more about Thomas? Check out his website.

Please share; I'm always keen for great suggestions.

Let’s take a moment to talk about optimism.

My favourite topic and one I could write about endlessly.

Why?

Because life throws curveballs.

Sometimes more than we’d like and it’s so easy to get swept up in pessimism or worry.

But there’s a wonderful alternative.

Choosing to focus on what could go right, even when things feel uncertain.

As Daniel Kahneman says, “It’s a wonderful thing to be optimistic. It keeps you healthy and it keeps you resilient.”

Isn’t that what most people wish for?

Better health and inner strength to bounce back?

Optimism isn’t just wishful thinking.

It’s a mindset that can help anyone thrive in everyday life.

Optimism matters because it’s directly tied to well-being.

Studies have clearly shown that people who intentionally look for the bright side are more likely to have lower stress levels, better physical health and even stronger immune systems.

That doesn’t mean ignoring problems or pretending everything is perfect.

It means believing that challenges can be managed and that setbacks are part of learning.

In real life, optimism helps to weather stressful days, difficult decisions and unexpected changes.

It’s the gentle voice that says, “This might work out,” nudging us forward when quitting feels tempting.

Want to bring a little more optimism into your week?

Try these simple steps:

Optimism isn’t about pretending tough things don’t exist.

For me, it’s been about gently steering my focus toward solutions, hope, possibility and moments of progress.

Face your problems rather than avoiding them.

When optimism becomes a habit, it feels easier to recover from setbacks and keep moving forward.

Even when a goal seems far away.

The best part?

Sticking to the theme from this newsletter.

Optimism is contagious.

People notice.

And it often inspires them too.

Are there times lately when optimism helped you through a challenge?

I’d love to hear from you.

Here’s to more resilience, better health and the simple joy of looking on the bright side.

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