If The World Feels Like A Terrible Place, Here Are 50 Of The Most Wholesome Things People Shared Online To Make Each Other’s Day (New Pics)

If you’re naturally a pessimistic person, you might be rolling your eyes at the idea of practicing more positive thinking. But it might incentivize you to know that it can actually give you a longer, healthier life. “A 2018 study published in the Journal of Aging Research found that having a positive mental attitude was linked to decreased mortality over a 35-year period,” Kendra Cherry wrote in an article for Verywell Mind. “People who had a more positive outlook were also more likely to get regular physical exercise, avoid smoking, eat a healthier diet, and get more quality sleep.” Life is incredibly unpredictable, and we can never guarantee how long we’ll be around. But if keeping a cheery attitude increases my likelihood of living a long life, count me in!

One potential reason behind why positive people seem to live longer is that they’re less affected by stress. “Research suggests that having more positive automatic thoughts helps people become more resilient in the face of life's stressful events,” Cherry writes for Verywell Mind. “People who had high levels of positive thinking were more likely to walk away from stressful life events with a higher sense of the meaningfulness of life.” It’s also possible that people with better attitudes live healthier lives in general, as they’re not drawn to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as indulging in too much food or living sedentary lifestyles. There’s nothing wrong with staying home sometimes, but people who are genuinely happy tend to get out and about, even just for a walk and some fresh air.

We know that there are always tragedies happening in the world, and it’s important to be well-informed about global events, pandas. But we shouldn’t ignore the good things either! We hope you’re enjoying these wholesome and uplifting pics, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that bring a smile to your face. Feel free to share any heartwarming stories from your personal life down below as well, and then if you’re interested in viewing even more photos that will restore a bit of your faith in humanity, you can find Bored Panda’s last list on the same topic right here!