We at GoodViral know that you don’t have to do much to inspire a lot.
However, it can be hard to remember that in a world where we are inundated with negative news headlines that seem to showcase challenging narratives and endless problems with no solutions. This constant stream of negative media–on TV, on our phones, in our daily conversations–can leave us feeling hopeless and overwhelmed.
Constant exposure to negative news can take a toll on our mental health. Research has shown that prolonged exposure to negative news can contribute to heightened stress and anxiety. A summary from Pepperdine University articulates this response as “mean world syndrome” or the idea that “the world is inescapably bad, leading to emotional distress and even depression.”
This is not surprising, considering that the human brain has a natural tendency to focus on threats as a survival mechanism. When bombarded with distressing stories, our minds can become flooded, leading to a negative outlook on life.
But the opposite is also true. Recent research also emphasizes that exposure to good news can provide a much-needed respite from doom and gloom. And the importance of discovering and sharing good news cannot be overstated.
When we share good news, we share well-being, and we can encourage good action!
Good news is good news:
Positive stories can act as a mental palate cleanser, providing us with a reset for more positive thinking. Engaging with uplifting content can help us shift our focus from the challenges of the world to our personal and societal potential for positive change and progress.
The impact of positive information on our mental and emotional well-being–as well as its potential to foster a more optimistic, connected, and transformative society–underscores the need to prioritize uplifting stories.
And it is knowledge such as this that has inspired some innovative news organizations to ditch the “if it bleeds it leads” mantra, dedicating themselves to spreading good news and to modeling positive change and good acts in the world.
For, as one such organization, FutureCrunch.com, reminds us, “If we want to change the story of the human race in the 21st century, we have to change the stories we tell ourselves.”
Improved Mental, Emotional, and Physical Well-being:
Consuming and sharing positive stories can have a profound impact on one’s mindset. It measurably improves mental health by helping to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. Exposure to uplifting news can even trigger the release of dopamine, promoting feelings of happiness and contentment.
Dr. Tal Ben-Shahur, former Harvard professor and co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy, offers a simple explanation, “Consuming good news usually makes us happier and more optimistic about the world, because it reminds us that the world is a good place.”
This optimistic outlook can lead to increased resilience, improved problem-solving skills, and a greater ability to navigate life’s challenges with grace and determination.
And there is a direct connection between optimism and our cardiovascular health.
“Individuals with an optimistic outlook to life are more likely to eat better, engage in more physical activity, and develop closer social supports, resulting in “significantly stronger heart health.” (Journal of American College of Cardiology)
Enhanced Social Connections:
Exposure to good news also fosters positive social well-being.
When individuals share uplifting stories, it creates a sense of connection and camaraderie among friends, family, and colleagues. This strengthens social bonds and contributes to a more supportive and optimistic community. Moreover, the act of sharing good news serves as a catalyst for spreading positivity within our social circles.
In an age where information travels at unprecedented speeds through social media, the stories we choose to share contribute to the overall tone of online discourse. By actively seeking out and disseminating positive news, we become agents of change in the digital realm, fostering an environment that encourages hope and inspiration.
Positivity is contagious!!
And when we share positivity, the effects on our individual and social well-being are magnified.
“People who share positive news stories with others just twice a week are statistically happier and more stable than those who didn’t,” concluded a 2012 study from Brigham Young University. And “those who shared positive stories with a partner reported significantly higher levels of happiness, vitality, and satisfaction with life.”
Fostering a Culture of Compassion:
We begin to see how consuming and sharing good news can be a powerful force in creating societal harmony and unity. Positive stories have the power to bridge divides, bringing people together over shared values and aspirations. When we focus on the uplifting aspects of human experience, we find common ground that transcends the barriers of politics, religion, and geography.
By sharing positive stories that highlight values such as generosity, personal responsibility, and active engagement, individuals contribute to the creation of a culture that prioritizes empathy and benevolence, inspiring others to engage in similar positive actions.
Consider the impact of stories that highlight acts of kindness, resilience, and compassion. These narratives showcase our shared humanity and the potential for positive collaboration to help people, animals, and our planet.
Whether it’s a community rallying together to create safe shelter for the unhoused or a global movement advocating industry-wide change to save sea turtles, positive stories inspire a sense of unity, collective purpose, and drive to action!
“So often we think about ‘hope’ as a noun. ‘Hope’ is something that we have or something that exists or something that doesn’t exist–or something that we lose or something that we gain. But ‘hope’ can also be a verb,” Gus Harvey, founder of FutureCrunch.com, reminded us in a recent interview with our own GoodViral crew.
“[Hope] can be an active thing that you engage in and that you do every day on a daily basis. The act of hoping isn’t a passive one. It’s one where you get involved. Hope is about making good things happen.”
Brett Jordan on Unsplash” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>
Inspiring Good Action:
It is exactly this mindset of hope, optimism, and action that has motivated positive news outlets, like FutureCrunch.com, to pivot to constructive journalism, providing stories that are “more productive, more forward-looking, more solution-focused.”
By actively seeking out and disseminating positive stories, individuals become agents of change, fostering a cultural shift that emphasizes the inherent goodness in humanity and the potential for positive change. In a world that often highlights the challenges we face, embracing and sharing good news becomes an essential tool for building a brighter, more interconnected, and hopeful future.
And it is exactly this mindset of hope, optimism, and action that is behind the GoodViral podcast. By exposing the positive stories taking place every day–by telling the stories of individuals and groups making real change in the world, we hope to inspire others to engage in meaningful and impactful actions themselves.
We hope to create a world with greater mental, emotional, and physical health. We hope to bring people together in strengthened social connection. We hope to foster greater compassion and empathy for people, animals, and the planet.
We can all be agents of change. And it can start here–with the action of hope.
————-
Listen to GoodViral’s full interview with August (Gus) Harvey and the power of positive news to inspire positive change: “Good News: What Big Media is Missing.”
On Spotify
On Apple Podcast
On Google Podcast
Or YouTube
Listen to GoodViral’s team tell you about their desire to inspire positive change through positive action: “When Good Goes Viral.”
On Spotify
On Apple Podcast
On Google Podcast
Or YouTube
————-
Learn more about (and from) Future Crunch, the world’s most popular newsletter on human progress – covering human rights, clean energy, global health, development, scientific breakthroughs, and conservation victories.
Follow Future Crunch:
On the web: Futurecrunch.com
On Twitter / X: @future_crunch
On Facebook: futurecrunch
———-
Learn more about Good Viral, where we believe that people can, and want to, do more to help others. We invite you to join the conversation about the small and large ways that we can help people, animals, and the planet.
You don’t have to do much to inspire a lot.
Subscribe and be part of the movement.
When Good Goes Viral, The World Gets Better.
Follow GoodViral:
On the Web: GoodViral.org
On YouTube: GoodViral videos
On Facebook: GoodViralOrg
On TikTok: GoodViral
— the marketing stuff —
#goodnews #futurecrunch #humanitarian #animalrights #progress #humanrights #womenrights #childsafety #humantrafficking #gushervey #angushervey #tedtalk #massmedia #bigmedia #media #GoodViral #FutureCrunch #AugustHervey #GoodNews #Optimism #Hope #ChallengeMassMedia #PositiveNews #Inspiration #InspiringStories #ChangingTheWorld #PositiveImpact #MakingADifference #SpreadTheGoodWord