In 1944, American songwriters Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer penned the song Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, which highlighted that the key to happiness was to: Ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive, E-lim-i-nate the negative, And latch on to the affirmative. Don't mess with Mr. In-between. It's a familiar inspirational trope that has followed humankind through the ages, to stay focused on the positive and,.