No matter what’s going on in your life today, pandas, you deserve to take some time to scroll through these wholesome and uplifting pics. So sit back, relax and enjoy this collection from the Wholesome Memes Facebook page. This account, which has been around since January 2010, has amassed an impressive 719k likes over the past 14 years. 

The page posts adorable photos of pets, wholesome family moments that might make you cry, hilarious screenshots from conversations between friends and much more. And it’s the perfect place to check out if you’re in need of some more positivity in your day. It’s an easy way to spread joy as well, if you simply pass along the photos you like to your loved ones. There’s no limit to how many wholesome interactions can come from this one heartwarming page!

We all know that the internet is full of heartbreaking news headlines and negativity from individuals who never want to hear beliefs that oppose their own. And while it’s important to stay up to date with current events, you should never forget the importance of positivity too. In fact, taking in some wholesome content might even be beneficial for your health!

According to Think with Google, viewing some feel-good content can release dopamine and provide you with more motivation, satisfaction and pleasure. Plus, we need dopamine to help our memories, get better quality sleep and allow us to be able to concentrate. In fact, even advertisers know the importance of spreading positive vibes to customers.  

“I do a lot of research on consumer mood and emotion. In television advertising in particular, for the most part, 90-95% is still positive, upbeat advertising,” Nancy Puccinelli, a professor of marketing at the University of Bath, told Think with Google. “The basic premise is that if the ad makes people feel good, their attitudes towards nearly anything you show them will go up considerably. And there’s also a significant knock on effect on behavior - all other things being equal, if a brand makes me feel good, I’m going to be inclined to buy that brand.”

While the word “wholesome” hasn’t always had a positive connotation, the New York Times published a piece last year explaining how the term has become a compliment for Gen Z. Prior to about 2018, “wholesomeness” was often linked to conservative and traditional values. In recent years, however, it’s been reclaimed to describe anything that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. “I think it caught on a lot because it’s just a word that sounds cool,” 22-year-old Enzo Luna told the NYT. “It’s such a strong and simple word.”

Wholesome memes have flooded the internet over the past few years, and they might have come about in direct opposition to the sarcastic memes millennials used to share in the early 2010s. Those pics were often “coated with dark humor and doused in irony,” the NYT explains, but these wholesome memes are simple and uplifting. “Sometimes those ironic and satirical memes are too heavy-handed, and they go into things that, at a certain point, it’s not really a joke anymore,” Luna shared, noting that he often prefers a sweet cat video instead. 

And of course, if you love wholesome memes, you'll likely love plenty of other wholesome things as well. Gen Zers in particular seem to love following wholesome celebrities online, such as Harry Styles, taking up wholesome pastimes, like playing board games or crocheting, and adopting wholesome lifestyles, where they go to bed early and prioritize their mental and physical health. Being wholesome doesn’t have to only take place online, and plenty of people are embracing it in the real world!   

Mashable even detailed how wholesome memes can not only be uplifting, but also subversive. For example, sharing compassionate and empathetic memes can actually start to change the way that we interact with others online. You might be reminded to take care of yourself or drink more water after seeing a wholesome meme that tells you to do so, and you may call your mom to tell her you love her after seeing an adorable screenshot of someone’s conversation with their own parent. Taking part in this wholesome activity online can bring even more sunshine into your real life.  

We hope you’re enjoying scrolling through these uplifting memes, pandas! Keep upvoting the ones that make you smile, and let us know in the comments below what’s bringing some joy into your life today. Then, if you’re interested in checking out even more wholesome memes from Bored Panda, you can find another great article right here!