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Good news is always, well, good! So it’s great to have an Instagram account like this ready to convey some positivity into our daily lives. And it seems that people are thirsty for such content because the Good News Movement has already amassed more than 3.9M followers. The creator of this account, Michelle Figueroa from Boston, felt that wholesome content sometimes gets pushed to the side, and wanted to create a space dedicated solely to uplifting stories.
“People send me good news stories from their own communities that maybe otherwise wouldn’t make a headline or wouldn’t make the newspaper or newscast. I don’t really limit myself in terms of what we cover. We welcome people to send any kind of story that brought them joy,” Michelle said on the Rachael Ray Show.
She noticed many times that the kind person didn’t know the individual they were helping — they were complete strangers. This only shows that the world is full of wonderful people ready to lend a hand to those facing adversities and build stronger bonds within families, communities, and beyond.
“I have been a network journalist for over 10 years and since my first aired story, I have always found myself drawn to stories showing the good in humanity,” she told Vogue. “In fact, my very first story was for a show called Primer Impacto. It was about a toddler with skin as fragile as a butterfly’s (she has epidermolysis bullosa) whose attitude is so inspiring.”
She believes that people have so much good, much more than bad, but there wasn’t a journalist-run space for it. So she decided to fill this gap. Michelle created the account so people could send in upbeat stories about acts of kindness, and she could share them with the internet.
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“I decided to meet people where they are and since people are on their phones an average of 4 hours a day, why not go there?” she asked. “The number of followers has doubled since the outbreak hit the US, from 500,000 to over a million. I am receiving so many messages that even the simple act of sleeping 7 hours puts me behind and I find myself doing a morning catch-up session as I am receiving messages from all over the World and in different time zones. That’s a testament that even in the worst of times, good news is still overflowing, both in real life and my inbox!”
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It’s no surprise that reading and hearing inspiring stories make us feel generally happier. This doesn’t mean we should ignore the difficulties and injustices people face in today’s world. However, it’s crucial to find the balance and notice when your thoughts begin to spiral to prevent them from going out of control.
Michelle explained that if we consume only the bad, we might start to feel weighed down. “If we nourish ourselves with the good in the world, we’ll feel positive, uplifted and inspired,” the creator of the Good News Movement said. “In these times, … it can be easy to be anxious with uncertainty, but my page has served as solace that together we can get through this.”
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“It’s interesting: people often look elsewhere for good news — on the TV or in the newspaper, but people themselves are the good news. No matter where we are, or our circumstances, we are capable of being and creating good news. It may sound cliché, but the change does indeed start with each of us.”
She decided to add the word “movement” to the title because it truly is a collective effort. “People send in their stories or stories of their neighbors, friends, classmates and this platform amplifies stories from their neighborhood to the world. I receive messages of support on a daily basis – people thanking me for lifting up their spirits or inspiring them to do an act of kindness which truly is the best compensation for me.”
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After all, we are hardwired to feel compassion and almost always want to help other human beings (and animals!) “Good News Movement is a platform to share the good news but it’s also a vehicle to connect those who need help with those who want to help.”
Michelle mentioned that people want to assist and support others but sometimes, they don’t know how to go about it. “One time, a boy with autism in Florida asked his mom if anyone would like him and, with permission of the mom, posted about it and asked for cards. The boy received hundreds of cards and gifts from the followers.”