35 Wholesome Pics Showing That There’s Still Good In The World

Despite what you might think, human beings are actually hard-wired for empathy and kindness because we have mirror neurons. It’s a survival strategy that allowed our ancestors to live through tough times, with the help of their community. In short, we’re born for pro-social behavior.

On the flip side, this instinct for compassion is constantly at odds with people’s drive for selfishness, namely, hoarding resources to improve their odds of survival. So, it’s in between these two instincts (selflessness and selfishness) that you make your daily decisions.

There are different types of empathy. For example, Verywell Mind explains that affective empathy involves your ability to understand another individual’s emotions and then respond to them appropriately.

Meanwhile, somatic empathy means that you have a physical reaction to what someone else is experiencing. For instance, seeing someone else feeling embarrassed might make you blush.

Cognitive empathy, on the other hand, is your ability to understand someone else’s mental state and what they might be thinking.

Being empathetic generally means that you’re able to build stronger relationships with others. And your positive relationships, in turn, are great for both your physical and mental well-being.

What’s more, empathizing with others helps you learn to regulate your own emotions, which means that you can weather (more) stress without becoming (too) overwhelmed. This can work in reverse, too: being able to self-regulate your emotions can make you more empathetic, too.

Which of the photos featured in this list left the biggest impression and why, Pandas? Where do you look for hope, optimism, and inspiration when the world feels overwhelming, unkind, dark, and oppressive?

What are some small acts of kindness that you try to do every single day? Would you call yourself an empathetic person? If you feel like sharing, we’ll be waiting to read your comments down below.