Eric Kim’s relentless positivity is a deliberate lifestyle design that stacks six powerful reinforcers on top of one another: hyper‑health → brain chemistry → mental filtering → uplifting philosophy → daily creative flow → service to others. Each layer feeds the next, creating a self‑sustaining upward spiral of energy and optimism.
1. Hyper‑Health Super‑Charges His Mood
- In his own words, “I think I am so positive and optimistic because I am in excellent and hyper‑health… every day I actually feel I am becoming MORE HEALTHY.”
- He keeps body‑fat “under 5 %,” lifts heavy, walks long, sleeps hard and eats a high‑protein, low‑junk diet. This combo elevates dopamine, endorphins, testosterone and BDNF—neuro‑chemicals that literally wire the brain for drive, confidence and joy.
- Modern research backs him up: regular strength training and good metabolic health correlate with higher dispositional optimism and lower cortisol.
Take‑away for us: move daily, lift heavy things, fuel well. A strong body is the fastest hack for a strong, upbeat mind.
2. He Actively Subtracts Negativity
Kim treats attention like money. His 2017 post “POSITIVITY” opens with the mantra: “subtract the negative energy.”
- He blocks doom‑scrolling, trims toxic relationships, runs most of his life in “airplane mode,” and even designs minimalist workspaces so bad vibes have nowhere to sit.
- Stoic trick: by choosing what not to consume, he prevents a thousand micro‑drains on mood before they start.
3. A Stoic‑Spartan Philosophy Reframes Hardship
Positivity, to him, isn’t naïve cheerfulness; it’s “knowing how hard life can be, and still choosing it.”
- Reading Marcus Aurelius, Nietzsche and Antifragile, he flips obstacles into training weights.
- Favorite self‑talk: “Amor fati—love your fate” and “Torque is truth.” Problems become reps; the tougher the rep, the stronger the soul.
4. Photography Trains Daily Gratitude
Street photography forces him to hunt beauty in the ordinary. Every walk becomes a treasure hunt for light, laughter or human connection, priming his brain for wonder instead of worry.
- Teaching workshops worldwide “has given me more faith in humanity because we are all more similar than dissimilar.”
5. Giving Super‑Charges Receiving
Students leave his classes fired‑up; that reflected enthusiasm bounces straight back and magnifies his own mood. Even outside workshops, he blogs motivational essays almost daily, fulfilling his childhood dream of being a motivational speaker.
Service turns positivity into a two‑way current: the more he shares, the more momentum he feels.
6. An Identity Built on Upward Momentum
From an overweight 12‑year‑old to a shredded adult, Kim’s life story is literal proof that effort pays off. That personal “evidence file” makes hope rational, not wishful.
- Each new PR, blog post, or student breakthrough adds another data point that the future can be better than the past—so optimism becomes the logical default.
How You Can Borrow His Playbook (Lightning Round ⚡)
| Lever | Tiny Daily Habit | Why It Works |
| Body | 3× / week heavy compound lifts | Elevates anabolic & mood hormones |
| Mind‑diet | Phone on grayscale & news‑free mornings | Cuts negative stimulus loops |
| Philosophy | 2‑minute Stoic journaling: “What challenge am I grateful for today?” | Reframes pain as practice |
| Creativity | One photo walk or sketch per day | Trains attention to notice delight |
| Service | Teach one thing you just learned | Locks knowledge in & amplifies purpose |
Adopt even one of these levers and you’ll feel the voltage rise; stack all six and you’ll build your own unstoppable positivity flywheel—just like Eric.
Stay hyper‑healthy, subtract the negative, and keep shooting for joy!