Otherwise, just remember that this too shall pass and eventually you can get out of there and on to the rest of your day.

Hold the door for someone, make faces at the fractious baby, point out posted information that people canвЂ™t find.

If you notice an opportunity to be helpful, then help. Bring a book with you and focus on the book rather than the toe-tapping and the muttered complaints. The best form of defense against this group is distraction. This is usually the easiest group of grumpy people to navigate as you know youвЂ™ll never see them again, and what they say and do affects you far less than the moods of a coworker or a close friend. YouвЂ™ll find big groups of grumpy strangers wherever thereвЂ™s a long line or a waiting room: at the doctorвЂ™s office, at the DMV, airport gates, etc. The last group of people you might run into is strangers who are unhappy. Mood is often a choice, and you can choose to stay in a good one. Food? Cracking a few jokes? Taking a walk? Suggesting a cat nap? If none of these work, give your friend some space and make a decision to stay happy. You know this person well, so consider what might help bring his mood up. If your good friend is in a bad mood thatвЂ™s starting to drag you down, and he or she has already explained whatвЂ™s going on, then itвЂ™s time to take baby steps back towards positivity. Venting can be good and healthy, but it can also get out of control. This is because youвЂ™re more comfortable around people you love and know well and youвЂ™ve probably established a habit with each other of venting about the difficulties in your life. When youвЂ™re with good friends or significant other, itвЂ™s much harder to ignore a bad mood or turn the tide from grumpy to positive. But if you want to go above and beyond, you can make a positive contribution with a heartfelt (NOT sarcastic) comment, such as, вЂњHey, Jerry isnвЂ™t so bad, what would our office be without his laugh?вЂќ It may not turn the tide, but at least you didnвЂ™t contribute to making the negative spirit even larger. What can you do in this situation to turn the tide of grump back? Well, for starters, you can put on a snorkel and dive underwater - in other words, you can just choose not to participate. When someone makes a negative comment about a project, a fellow coworker, or even a relative or friend of theirs, the wave of grump easily moves from a gentle wave to tidal proportions. YouвЂ™re probably around them, or at least talking to them (even if you work remotely), throughout the day. LetвЂ™s focus on a few of these groups specifically, starting with coworkers first. You can find a people who are grumpy and griping just about anywhere. The second is easier, but leaves you feeling deflated - and, of course, mars your good mood. Or, give in and temper your mood to fit the vibe of everyone else. Usually you have two choices: Stay happy and cheerful and ignore the mood of the room. Have you ever been in a pretty great mood, and then you walk into a room where everyone is grumpy? ItвЂ™s difficult to stay positive when youвЂ™re with a group of people who are unhappy, grousing, or complaining. There's nothing like grumpy people to bring you down, but you don't have to let others' moods destroy your own.

Negative moods