It is essential to take a break from negativity periodically. When we focus too much on toxic relationships, distressing news articles, or failures, our perception of the world can become overly bleak and dreary. This prolonged exposure can escalate feelings of anxiety, stress, and helplessness, creating a cycle of emotions that nobody wants to be trapped in.
To distract ourselves from negative thoughts, even temporarily, we have compiled a collection of uplifting stories to inspire you. Courtesy of the ‘Be Amazed’ subreddit, get ready to experience a rollercoaster of positive emotions!
While you enjoy these heartwarming tales, be sure to read an insightful discussion with cyber and media psychologist Mayra Ruiz-McPherson, PhD(c), MA, MFA, who graciously shared tips on how to avoid becoming overly fixated on negative news.
Ruiz-McPherson explains that “negative news” can encompass problematic, stressful events as well as traumatic or catastrophic incidents. Excessive focus on such news can have a detrimental impact on mental health, cognitive processes, social behavior, and overall well-being.
One consequence of consuming negative news is heightened anxiety and worry, which can diminish optimism and hope, leading us to anticipate negative outcomes. Prolonged exposure to traumatic events may even result in symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress, affecting individuals indirectly impacted by the trauma.
Negativity bias, reinforced by pessimistic headlines and stories, can fuel maladaptive thought patterns like increased pessimism and catastrophizing. It can also undermine our ability to maintain optimism, which plays a crucial role in filtering out negative information and shaping our beliefs.
Furthermore, a continuous diet of negative news can influence our social behavior, causing emotional desensitization, compassion fatigue, and reinforcement of harmful biases. This can erode social trust and civic engagement, highlighting the profound impact of a pessimistic news environment on individuals and society.
Promoting the idea that the world is a dangerous place where trust is scarce can impact how individuals view social interactions and lead to political disengagement, potentially hindering positive social actions and political involvement,” she suggests.
Alternatively, positive news has the ability to increase happiness and well-being, according to Ruiz-McPherson. Improved mood can lower stress levels, alleviate feelings of isolation, and strengthen social connections, fostering healthier relationships.
It can be challenging to avoid getting overwhelmed by negativity, as the media often emphasizes negative stories to attract more viewers. Ruiz-McPherson recommends practicing moderation to avoid being consumed by pessimistic news. She compares this approach to maintaining a balanced diet, where occasional indulgences are acceptable but not constant consumption.
She also advises identifying sources of negative news and evaluating their impact on stress levels. By recognizing patterns and sources of stress, individuals can begin to make adjustments to their news consumption habits.
Another suggestion is to balance negative news with positive stories. Following the philosophy that every force has a counterforce, she encourages readers to seek out uplifting news to counterbalance negative headlines.
Lastly, she reminds media consumers that news is not just journalism but a business driven by advertising and revenue. It’s important to be mindful of this relationship and consider the motivations behind news content.
As individuals engage with news media for extended periods, the intentional design of negative headlines, which often evoke strong emotional responses, tends to overshadow positive headlines. Recognizing this underlying characteristic of news, deliberately crafted to capitalize on our psychological susceptibilities, can empower and motivate readers to take control of their headline consumption habits,” explains Ruiz-McPherson.
The 28th entry features a photo showcasing everyone who contributed to the restoration of the Notre Dame Cathedral over the past five years, credited to ReesesNightmare. In the next image by Green____cat, viewers are reminded that life is full of surprises. Moving on, a four-man anti-poaching team dedicated to protecting a Northern White Rhino is highlighted by Green____cat. Another photo captured by the same individual depicts a melanistic fox, labeled as super_man100.
A humorous historical anecdote is shared in the 33rd image, showing a seaman’s request for leave in 1967 to witness his wife’s planned pregnancy, courtesy of 4reddityo. The 34th entry showcases a tree that has grown across a driveway and sprouted new trees, photographed by Lisa-Lya. Italian photographer Business_Initial_281 waited six years to capture a perfectly aligned photo of the moon, a mountain, and a basilica, displayed in the 35th image.
In the 36th photo, a fisherman caught a rare blue lobster off the coast of Portland and released it back into the water to continue growing, as shared by super_man100. The 37th image highlights Shaquille O’Neal’s kindness, credited to Glass-Reserve-8107. A Japanese snow fairy, known as Shima Enaga, is captured in the 38th photo by wanabepilot.
A creative use of pressure washers by a German company to create a giant image of Godzilla on the Iwaya Kawauchi Dam in Saga Prefecture is exhibited in the 39th entry, credited to devil9045. Shanghai’s unique green space with a 110-degree incline, designed for ergonomic comfort resembling a reclining chair, is showcased in the 40th image by Affectionate_Run7414. A touching story of a breast cancer survivor marrying her love just 18 hours before passing away in a hospital chapel in Connecticut is shared in the 46th image, credited to VastCoconut2609.
The 41st entry features farmers using specially designed earmuffs to protect their young cows from frostbite, captured by VatsRealm. An extraordinary close-up shot of a whale’s eye by French photographer Rachel Moore is displayed in the 45th image, credited to Greedy-Vegetable-466. The 42nd entry showcases a resilient individual battling breast cancer and marrying their partner despite the circumstances, shared by Green____cat.
Further down the list, a striking image of sleeping squirrels in their nest on a window ledge is presented by super_man100. In the
