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It’s important to take a break from negativity once in a while. When we constantly focus on toxic relationships, devastating news articles, or failures, we begin to see the world as more black and grey than it really is. Over time, this can heighten anxiety, stress, and helplessness—a carousel of feelings no one enjoys getting stuck in.

To take our minds off the negative things, at least for a short while, we have prepared a list of stories that will positively amaze you. Courtesy of the ‘Be Amazed’ subreddit, get ready to embark on a rollercoaster of optimistic emotions!

While you’re enjoying the list, don’t forget to check out a conversation with cyber and media psychologist Mayra Ruiz-McPherson, PhD(c), MA, MFA, who kindly agreed to share a few tips on how we can avoid getting too focused on negative news.

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#1 Bob Fletcher

#2 Be More Like Keith

#3 That Was A Long Road!

Cyber and media psychologist Mayra Ruiz-McPherson, PhD(c), MA, MFA, explains that broadly speaking, “negative news” can describe two kinds of events and happenings. First are those we view as problematic and stressful (essentially not good) and those that are of a traumatic or catastrophic nature.

And if we get focused on them too much, they can negatively affect us. “While staying informed is important, prolonged consumption of negative news in either capacity can have wide-ranging effects on mental health, cognitive processes, social behavior, and overall well-being,” says Ruiz-McPherson.

#4 Everyone Deserves A Second Chance

#5 Great Parenting Example

#6 Love Of Son To Mother

One of the effects that negative news can have on our mental health is increased anxiety and worry. When these feelings are heightened, we may also lack optimism, hope, and start to expect worst-case outcomes.

“Ongoing exposure to especially traumatic events can also lead to (sometimes long-lasting) symptoms resembling post-traumatic stress, even for those not directly affected by the trauma,” adds Ruiz-McPherson.

#7 Helping At All Times

#8 She Did It All

#9 Awesome

Cognitively, pessimistic headlines and stories reinforce our negativity bias, which, according to Ruiz-McPherson, “can lead to maladaptive thought patterns, including increased pessimism and catastrophizing.”

It can also erode our ability to stay optimistic, which is more important than we may realize. “Our optimism is a cognitive buffer of sorts that helps us to selectively filter out bad news when updating our beliefs and understandings on incoming/new information,” says Ruiz-McPherson.

#10 We All Can See The Happiness On Her Face

#11 Hummingbird Found Shelter In The Rain

#12 This Is Not About Hunting. Alex Larenty, From Britain, Lives In A South African Game Reserve Where He Gives Lions Foot Massages

He started doing this after noticing that a cream for paw infections made a lion relax and look happy

A constant flow of negative news can additionally influence our social behavior. “Prolonged exposure to negatively valenced news and media can lead to emotional desensitization, trigger compassion fatigue, and inadvertently strengthen harmful social biases,” says Ruiz-McPherson.

It can decrease social trust and civic engagement too. “Constant negative news promoting beliefs that the world is a dangerous place where people cannot be trusted can alter one’s perceptions of social dynamics and inspire political apathy. This, in turn, may impact a person’s ability or desire to engage in positive social actions and/or demotivate constructive political behavior,” she adds.

#13 Give This Man A Raise

#14 Life Is Full Of Surprises

#15 Guy Smiles For A Photo After The Tree He Planted 35 Years Ago That He Named Epimaco Amancio Saved A Bus From Plunging Off A Cliff In Dalaguete, Cebu, Philippines

It saved the lives of 37 people, most of them were students.

On the other hand, good news has the power to boost our happiness and overall well-being, says Ruiz-McPherson. And the better our mood, the lower our stress levels.

It can also reduce feelings of isolation or loneliness, which consequently enhances our social connectedness and allows us to build stronger relationships.

#16 Brilliant

#17 Murphy, A Disabled Bald Eagle Became Famous After He Attempted To Hatch A Rock

In 2023 the keepers of his sanctuary replaced his rock with an orphaned eaglet, allowing Murphy to finally become a real parent

#18 A Cat With A Bicolor Face Is The Father Of Two Kittens That Share His Coloring

Admittedly, it can be hard to avoid being overwhelmed by negativity, as the media purposely feeds us negativity to attract more readers. However, Ruiz-McPherson says that to refrain from getting sucked into pessimistic news, we have to practice moderation, just like with anything in life.

“Most of us enjoy greasy fries or ice cream from time to time, but we don’t consume those types of foods day and night, nor for our every single meal,” she says, illustrating her point. “So moderation in terms of news requires striking a balance, but achieving and maintaining that balance requires some considerations.”

#19 This Is So Wholesome

#20 Good Idea

#21 Have A Rest From All The Bad News With Some Laundry Art

Another tip she gives is to identify and evaluate the sources that are pushing the negative news to you. “What specific outlets or headline angles do you find consistently stressful, and from which outlets do they likely originate? Identify your negative news exposure sources, genres, and patterns so you can start to change them,” recommends Ruiz-McPherson.

#22 In London, There Is A Woman Who Takes The Tube Every Day And Sits On The Platform Just To Hear The Announcement Recorded By Her Late Husband In The 1960s

#23 Photo Of Everyone Who Helped Restore The Notre Dame Cathedral Over The Past Five Years

#24 A Four Man Anti-Poaching Team That Permanently Guards A Northern White Rhino

Next, she advises adopting the “Every force has a counterforce” mindset. “The ancient Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, reminds us that every force has its counterforce. Using this mantra, make it a practice to read one (or two!) positive headline for every negative headline you consume.”

#25 This Is A Melanistic Fox

#26 Not All Superheroes Wear Capes

#27 Italian Photographer Waits 6 Years To Get Perfectly Aligned Photo Of The Moon, A Mountain, And A Basilica

Lastly, she reminds media consumers that news isn’t just journalism but an advertising business that operates on numbers to generate revenue and sales.

“As a result, getting folks to click, watch, engage with, and consume news media for longer periods of time, the negative headlines (that most stimulate our emotional response) tend to crowd out the positive headlines by design. Understanding this fundamental aspect of “the news,” which is intentionally built to capitalize on our psychological vulnerabilities, can help empower and motivate readers to take headline consumption matters more into their own hands,” explains Ruiz-McPherson.

#28 Fisherman Caught This Blue Lobster Off The Coast Of Portland And Returned It To The Water To Continue To Grow. Blue Lobsters Are One In Two Million

#29 A Very Talented Graphic Designer Meets A Couple On Twitter

#30 Japanese Snow Fairy (Shima Enaga)

#31 This Tree That Has Grown Across The Driveway And Sprouted More Trees Off The Top

#32 Shaquille O’neal Is A Genuinely Kind Guy

#33 A Seaman’s Request For An Extraordinary Leave Of Absence, 1967. Reason: “My Wife Is Planning To Get Pregnant This Weekend And I Would Like To Be Present.”

#34 Sleeping Squirrels In Their Nest On Someone’s Window Ledge

#35 Shanghai’s Business District Features A Unique Green Space With A 110-Degree Incline, Designed For Ergonomic Comfort And Resembling A Reclining Chair

#36 A German Company That Sells Cleaning Equipment Used Its Pressure Washers To Create A Giant Image Of Godzilla On The Iwaya Kawauchi Dam In Saga Prefecture (Japan)

#37 Farmers Protect Their Young Cows From Frostbite By Using Specially Designed Earmuffs

#38 French Photographer Rachel Moore Captures A Breathtaking Close-Up Shot Of A Whale’s Eye

#39 Hn At Gets Clean And Attains A Computer Information Systems Degree With A 4.0 Average

#40 He’s A Bada*s

#41 These Are Not Pencil Drawings. They Are Made On Folded Paper

#42 Weather Reporting In Halloween

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