Photo taken in Barcelona, Spain
Particles of Energy
In grade school, we’re introduced to atoms—those tiny building blocks made of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Whether through plastic models or animations, this early chemistry lesson shows us the basics of what forms everything we know.
Like any subject, some students light up with interest, while others zone out in silent protest. And while not everyone finds joy in the study of electric charges or molecular structure, it’s hard not to notice certain patterns reflected in other parts of life.
Take math, for instance: a positive number must outweigh a negative to make it disappear. Maybe that’s why the saying “two wrongs don’t make a right” feels more literal than we think.
So when we consider how molecules move within a confined space, it’s fair to ask—do we reflect the same behavior? Are we, in some ways, mimicking the energy of the particles that make us?
Imagine a room full of people, each carrying positive, negative, or neutral energy. Even if we try to stay above the noise, we’re often influenced by the energy around us—sometimes without even noticing. And sometimes, to our own detriment.
Whirlpool of Emotion
Anyone who’s worked in retail or hospitality knows the emotional rollercoaster that comes with it. Coffee shop workers, for example, are no strangers to the unpredictability of a typical day.
Over time, routines give rise to a sixth sense—one that anticipates the day before it fully unfolds. Many start their shifts while the rest of the city sleeps, arriving at work just after 4 a.m.
Some co-workers arrive fresh and focused; others, looking like they’ve barely survived the night. Still, the work begins: prepping pastries, cleaning espresso machines, lining up syrup bottles. At first, there’s calm—maybe even espresso shots with friends as the neighborhood slowly wakes.
But seasoned staff know never to trust the quiet. A peaceful start doesn’t mean an easy day. You stay on guard, bracing for the wave that might come crashing down at any moment.
Because some days are fine—others, not so much. Sometimes one single moment is all it takes to shake your hope in humanity.
In offices, it might be emails flying and tension brewing. In a café, it can turn chaotic—lines out the door, machines steaming, people shouting, drinks being thrown, tantrums erupting. Rage builds in the room like pressure in a sealed container.
It’s enough to break even the most resilient spirit, and sometimes it does.
Paradox of Prosperity
In moments of tension, it becomes clear who’s managing to stay grounded—and who’s spiraling.
Some hold it together, even as frustration creeps onto their faces. Others crack, voices raised louder than the customers they once tried to calm.
This is the emotional labor of service work—customizing orders, offering smiles, and representing a brand that promises joy and ease.
With convenience and variety comes a cultural cost. How long can we uphold values that reward blame and entitlement?
With an excess of multiple choices for anything and everything, how long before one forgets who is truly responsible for the overall quality of their own experience? The product or the person himself?
In The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson writes:
“There is a simple realization from which all personal improvement and growth emerges. This is the realization that we, individually, are responsible for everything in our lives, no matter the external circumstances. We don’t always control what happens to us. But we always control how we interpret what happens to us, as well as how we respond. Whether we consciously recognize it or not, we are always responsible for our experiences. It’s impossible not to be. Choosing to not consciously interpret events in our lives is still an interpretation of the events of our lives.”
The Witty Ones
Over time, I noticed something few people talk about: the challenge of protecting your energy in the face of negativity. No one taught me how to shield my character and values from those who lash out because they’re lost in their own emotions.
It took years to realize that part of our daily job is to show up, stay true, and not carry it home with us. It’s a practice—one built on consistency, not bursts of perfection.
Some people do this with grace. I call them the Witty Ones—those with the gift of disarming tension using humor, timing, and just the right amount of sarcasm.
They seem untouchable, flipping the mood of a room in seconds. Positivity or calm bounces off of them like armor. They keep the atmosphere light without sacrificing professionalism.
I remember one angry customer yelling through the drive-thru speaker: “This f*cking drink tastes like sh*t! Why is it that every time I f*cking come here, it always tastes like sh*t!”
We all froze, preparing for the inevitable meltdown. Then, over the headset, the very discreet voice of one of our coworkers quietly said, dryly but sweetly: “Well if she says her drink always tastes so bad, why does she keep coming back?”
Suddenly, everything softened. We laughed. The pressure broke. And just like that, the spell was lifted.
Our “Response Ability”
When life feels out of control, there’s still one thing we always own: our ability to respond.
That choice—the pause between stimulus and reaction—is where our power lies. While reacting is impulsive, responding is intentional. It’s a creative act, and one rooted in values.
Of course, it’s not always easy. But with patience and self-awareness, even difficult moments don’t have to win.
Neutrality and stillness can disarm a situation. Humor, used wisely, can defuse conflict and foster connection. In fact, studies show humor improves problem-solving, lowers stress, and boosts empathy.
When we shift our mindset, we practice proactive leadership. We grow stronger, wiser, and more capable.
In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steve McCovey writes:
“Look at the word responsibility – response-ability – the ability to choose your response. Highly proactive people recognize that responsibility. They do not blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice, based on values, rather than a product of their conditions, based on feeling.”
Rising to the Call
Like anything that requires intention and discipline, choosing how we respond takes effort. The older we get, the more difficult it becomes to remain true to ourselves when the world around us feels chaotic.
But as Michelle Obama once said: when they go low, we go high. In a later interview, she added:
“For me, going high is not losing the urgency or the passion or the rage, especially when you are justified in it. Going high means finding the purpose in your rage, you know. Rage without reason, without a plan, without direction is just more rage. And we’ve been living in a lot of rage. And why do you go high? Because the opposite way of being is unsustainable.”
When we learn to recognize the positive, negative, or neutral energy we carry, we can begin to rise to the call that a special moment requires of us. That’s when action born from passion and purpose finally finds its footing; where real change begins.
