The Ratio

 In an atom, the number of electrons (negatively charged sub-atomic particles) is always exactly equal to the number of protons (positively charged sub-atomic particles) in order to cancel them out and create balanced polarity. In other words, on the smallest level in the universe, matter is balanced and equal. A 1:1 ratio. It's different, though, for those immaterial things. Emotions, thoughts - those have a different ratio.

5 : 1

That's what it takes. Five positive influences to cancel out one negative influence. That means every time one jealous or angry person says something, it will take five kindly people to erase the emotional damage that has been done to that person. This is, of course, assuming they say something in time, that the damage has not sunk in yet. This is also assuming that they actually GET those five positive influences. That there aren't more negative comments being made about them. Because with negativity, it's one step forward, five steps back.

Are we being the kind of people that help offset the damage? I would encourage you all (and most especially myself!) to be the influence for good in the lives of everybody we see. We may only make 20% of the difference to help somebody have a good day, but it's better by far than making 100% certain that they don't.