32 Reasons Why Everything Will Be Okay
The world can feel heavy. Heartbreak. Pain. Injustice.
It all weighs on us.
If you’re wondering, “Will everything be okay?” — the short answer is, yes. The longer answer is, it’s complicated, but still yes.
Bad things will continue to happen in the world. Each of us will continue to have bad days, but in the midst of bad things and bad days — there will be good things and good days.
Illustration by Carra Sykes for The Mental Health Edition of the Goodnewspaper
At Good Good Good, we like to think we’re experts in good things. And while it’s important to acknowledge the heartbreak, pain, and injustice of the world — the reality is, there’s more good than bad in the world.
Every day, a million good things happen — but because our brains are hardwired with an internal negativity bias, it’s harder for us to see and remember the positive things happening.
If you feel overwhelmed by the state of the world, your feelings are valid. But we’ve created this list so you can breathe deeply and remember the good happening in the world.
Find a few ideas that speak to you, and let those carry you through your day. And maybe share this list, too. You never know who might need it.
The world is full of reasons why everything will be okay. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Mahatma Gandhi once said, “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it — always.”
- Conservation efforts are saving whole species of animals! When climate anxiety gets the best of you, remember that experts are devoting their life’s work to reversing the impact of climate change. Just think of the baby humpback whales.
- If you could choose to be born at any time in human history, but you wouldn’t know where you’d be born, what your race would be, whether or not you’d be able-bodied, or how much money your family would have, you would absolutely choose the moment we’re living in today.
While the world is far from perfect, the world is a better place for the greatest number of people than at any time in history. And the fact that the world has slowly but surely gotten better, means the future will be better too.
- Fred Rogers (aka Mister Rogers) once said, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
The quote doesn’t say there might be helpers. The quote says you will always find people who are helping.
At Good Good Good it’s our job to look for Helpers in the midst of bad news — and time after time, we’ve always found them.
- Libraries are bringing education and resources to all. Wander the stacks of your local branch and learn something new!
- “A single individual is enough for hope to exist. And that individual can be you.” — Pope Francis
- Because delicious food exists.
Pizza. Soup dumplings. Doughnuts. French Fries. Oranges.
- Helpers are working to bring more justice and equity to the world in all kinds of ways. The Solutions Project funds BIPOC-led environmentalist efforts, activists are quickly confronting the injustices of the cannabis industry, and even you can do your small part by finding diverse stock photos to use online and shopping Black-owned businesses.
- Despite all of the bad news in politics, there are still a lot of ways politics are being used for good and making a positive difference. Sometimes these positive political stories are just a bit harder to see.
- There’s this quote from Brad Montague where he says, “Be who you needed when you were younger.”
Even if your childhood was challenging, you have the ability to make sure somebody else has a better experience. This quote has actually gone viral through the years, and it’s encouraging to think about the number of people who have committed to being who they needed when they were younger.
- As far as we can tell, for the most difficult problems in the world, progress happens slowly and steadily.
In the book Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World — And Why Things Are Better Than You Think, Hans Rosling says, “Step-by-step, year-by-year, the world is improving. Not on every single measure every single year, but as a rule. Though the world faces huge challenges, we have made tremendous progress. This is the fact-based worldview.”
- “I do have reasons for hope: our clever brains, the resilience of nature, the indomitable human spirit, and above all, the commitment of young people when they’re empowered to take action.” — Jane Goodall
- The world is filled with brilliant books from people like you — and people nothing like you. There’s a whole universe of words to explore. (Check out some of our recent book recommendations here.)
- You have the opportunity to be the change you wish to see in the world.
- While it’s heartbreaking to think about families needing to flee war, conflict, or persecution — it’s beautiful to see so many Helpers and nonprofits working hard to help refugees around the world. (You can find a refugee organization to help too.)
- “Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.” ― Fred Rogers
- Dogs exist. Enough said.
- Melinda Gates says: “Optimism isn’t a belief that things will automatically get better; it’s a conviction that we can make things better.” Even when we feel powerless in the face of huge challenges, we can remember that our individual actions can make the world better.
- Can you believe that we live in a world filled beautiful music? Talented musicians release new songs every day. Styles and genres continue to evolve every year. And you can spend the rest of your life listening to your favorite memory-soaked songs — and discovering new music that speaks to you in a whole new way.
- Even though progress can feel slow, some brands and companies are in fact doing good. There are a variety of ethical Amazon alternatives (ahem, your local bookstore) who could use our support! And it’s fun to be a part of creating change by voting with your dollar!
- This moment is teaching you something you need to learn.
- Taylor Swift is re-recording her entire discography. When things feel overwhelming, we like to turn on Red (Taylor’s Version) and have a little jam sesh. There’s something particularly hopeful about a woman reclaiming her voice.
- “Being truthful about the state of our nation and world does not equal losing hope. Hope sees truth and still believes in better. That which dismisses or does not seek truth, but grins, saying “It will be okay,” is naiveté, not hope.” — Bernice King
- All around the world there are people of all faiths working for the betterment of their local communities.
- People are coming together through the Internet to raise money for world-changing organizations every single day. Some of our favorite online communities are the Nerdfighters and Governerds! Coincidence that they’re all nerds? We think not!
- “Remember: things can be bad, and getting better.” — Hans Rosling
- At Good Good Good, it’s our job to help readers feel more hopeful and do more good. Every day, we look for good news to share with our community. And there hasn’t ever been a single day where we didn’t find good news. In fact, we’ve never had the time and money to share all of the good news we find — there’s that much of it.
There’s SO much good news in the world. So rest assured that today, good things happened in the world. And tomorrow, good things will happen again. We hope they help you feel more hopeful — and we also hope you’ll take the opportunity to create some good, too.
If you need more good in your life — you can sign up to get the week’s best good news in your inbox.
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Everything will be okay. There’s lots good news worth celebrating — and we each have the opportunity to be a part of creating that good news.
