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50 Reassuring Facts Not Everyone Might Be Aware Of, According To People Online
Interview With Expert
You don’t need me to tell you that life can be tough—it’s a truth as old as time. But just because it’s a cliché doesn’t make it any less real. That’s exactly why getting through the struggles, tackling the curveballs, and holding onto a glass-half-full perspective can feel like such a monumental task.
Even the hardest days, however, can be made a little easier with some uplifting thoughts.
This wholesome Reddit thread is here to do just that: offer a collection of reassuring facts to bring you some comfort. Scroll down to soak it all in, and don’t miss our chat with Tracy Bevan, a specialist in transformative positive psychology, for tips on maintaining an optimistic mindset.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
You cannot save everyone. But the small kindnesses you share can dramatically affect the people around you, even if they feel insignificant to you.
Shout out to the guy at the supermarket the other day who patted me on the shoulder and said, "You're going to be ok." He had no way of knowing that I suffer from chronic depression, and that I'm in a dark place at the moment. He just thought I looked sad or empty or whatever and took a moment to remind me that it's ok to be human. It was nothing to him, but in that moment it was everything for me.
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#2
A cats purr released oxytocin and has a naturally calming effect.
#3
Actions have consequences, which seems usually to refer to negative things when people say it, but if actions have consequences, then positive actions can have positive consequences.
This was a big realization for me to find hope and motivation in the depths of depression.
According to this year’s Ipsos Global Happiness report, people worldwide are happier now than during the pandemic, though not as much as they were a decade ago. Around 71% of respondents across 30 countries describe themselves as happy—an improvement from 63% in 2020 but still short of the 77% recorded in 2011.
While these numbers might not seem too bleak, they’re a reminder that close to a third of the planet is unfulfilled with their lives. So much of what affects how we feel is beyond our control—circumstances, setbacks, or challenges we didn’t see coming—and staying optimistic can be hard in the face of it all.
To learn how we can nurture a brighter mindset, Bored Panda spoke with Tracy Bevan, a specialist in transformative positive psychology and founder of Positive Being Coaching.
Bevan shared that one practice that can make a big difference is reflection. “Reflecting on your life, how it is going and your role in it is crucial to wellbeing,” she explains. “It allows you to build a sense of agency. Agency is the feeling you are able to achieve the things you want to in life.”
“Without this reflection, life can feel like something that is happening to us. Instead, be an active participant!”
#4
Elephants' brains react the same way looking at us, as ours do when we see puppies. They think we're cute.
#5
You never feel like a grown up. You mostly just fake it and assume everyone else are actual adults. My data is only valid from ages 0-46 years of age.
Crazy_Raven_Lady:
Yep 44 here and I don’t feel like an adult. I always get nervous to meet my kids friends parents cause I figure they are real adults and they’ll be onto me.
davisolzoe:
I feel like a teenager working on projects on the garage, I’m 66.
Child of the Stars 2 days ago
I'm 42. Two of my best friends are in their 70s. When I go to them for guidance on something, I tell them I need a grownup's help. My other best friend is 27. They overheard me saying this to one of our older friends, and now they say it when they come to me. It's become our group's little joke.
#6
Your dog dreams about you.
Bob Brooce 2 days ago
Reassuring? Sure? Factual? I'm just a tiny bit skeptical that any dogs are telling researchers what they're dreaming about.
Donkey boi 2 days ago
I believe this to be true based on one of my dogs physical actions when sleeping. My little poodle X shih tzu does this thing when she wants to be picked up for her 'baby belly rub'. She raises her front paws then, while standing on her rear legs, she then lifts her right hind leg a little. She only does this to/for me because I'm the only one that does such a perfect belly rub. I've seen her do the same movement (albeit while lying on her side) while sleeping, followed by the leg twitch that the belly rub often produces.
Sand Ers 1 day ago
That's as close to definitive as we're ever likely to get.
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Janissary35680 2 days ago
They certainly dream about something. From watching their paws move while they're asleep I'm guessing it's squirrels or the like however.
Sand Ers 1 day ago
Mine runs and barks in his sleep. It could be chasing squirrels, or maybe reliving playing in the dog park with his brother and other dogs. Or something else altogether. Sometimes the barks sound distressed and I hope it's not a nightmare. When it seems like he's having a bad dream I'll cup my hands over his nose, and that seems to calm him.
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Ladedah 1 day ago (edited)
One-time I had a nightmare that someone had cut my dog in half (transverse-section-style)... and that he was still alive and I was desperately trying to sew him back together 😱. Not realistic at all... no bleeding... no suturing of the individual organs... and, well, remaining alive while cut in half is a pretty big indicator, too... but somehow sewing him up like a stuffed animal would fix him, so hey. Woke up and hugged that little f****r like I was never going to let him go.
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Kate 1 day ago
Cats dream about laying on a big cushy pillow on the kitchen island having his/her minions catering to their every need.
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Freya the Wanderer 2 days ago
How did anybody figure this out? Not as if you can ask dogs what their dreams are like.
Riley Quinn 1 day ago
Stated as a fact, yet absolutely no proof. Just because you want something, doesn't make it true.
HardBoiledBlonde 1 day ago
Harvard psychologists suggest that dogs dream in a manner similar to humans and may dream about their human owners. Dr Deirdre Barretts research indicates that dogs create dream scenarios based on their daily experiences, often involving their owners presence and emotions. This parallel in sleep patterns offers a heartwarming perspective on the human-dog relationship.
Sand Ers 1 day ago
I wonder how she infers their dream scenarios. Not doubting it, but can't think of any way to do it.
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While we can’t prevent bad things from happening, Bevan notes that finding meaning in tough experiences can help us recover and even grow stronger. “The people who recover sooner or even come back stronger are the ones who can find meaning in what has happened—to find a purpose in random life events—and then use this to carry them forward,” she says.
What we can control, however, are our daily habits. Bevan points out that small, consistent actions can set us on a path toward more positive thinking.
“The ABC of wellbeing are sleep, food (and water), movement, and breathing,” Bevan says. “Dull but true. Building regular routines around these generates a sense of agency. They are little daily activities that we can (in most situations) control.”
She shares her personal experience: “I started walking every morning during Covid, and it changed how I view myself and my capacity to achieve the things I want to. It has been the foundation from which my confidence and mental and physical health has blossomed.”
“Add to this the taking time to reflect I spoke about earlier. This could be in the form of journaling, a gratitude diary, or any other way you choose to pause and acknowledge the day,” Bevan suggests. “Think about what you brought to it by being present, by being you, and savor that feeling.”
At the same time, Bevan advises against forcing yourself into habits that don’t resonate with you. “Don’t try to keep a gratitude journal if it leaves you cold. Harness your individual strengths instead. One of my key strengths is playfulness, so I keep a ‘funny things’ journal instead—the silly things that make me giggle through the week,” she explains.
#7
Nobody is really looking or watching or even cares what you are doing out in public. The vast majority of the people that you see are so busy taking care of their own business that whatever they saw of you was forgotten in a few of minutes at most. I know that I have no recollection of most people I see in public after I leave the venue (supermarket, home depot, etc.) Except for the woman in dirty pajamas at Walmart spraying Febreeze on herself in the big aisle.
Karina 2 days ago
People dont notice if things are unnoteworthy. If you suddenly sit up straight as if yousaw something, people will also look up or adjust their seat. If you sway with music, more people will start to show some rythm. We notice what is pertinent for group activeties, at least.
#8
Dogs have an innate sense of loyalty and will go to great lengths, even traveling vast distances, to reunite with the people they love. In the 1920s, a collie named Bobby got lost during a road trip and was separated from his family. He traveled over 2,500 miles across the U.S. to find his way back home, reuniting with them after several months!
Jude Laskowski 1 day ago
I could not possibly leave without my dog, no matter how long it took to find him.
#9
The earth will eventually heal itself from the pollution sometime after humans are extinct.
AtMostAFabulist 2 days ago
But until humans go extinct we will just keep f*****g up the earth, so the rich can get richer.
Being optimistic doesn’t mean you need to feel overjoyed every second of the day. Instead, it’s about finding balance and not letting difficult emotions overwhelm you.
“All emotions are important,” Bevan says. “Who ever said we should be happy all the time? That’s not going to happen. Trying to ignore or downplay difficult feelings like sadness, anger, grief, or frustration will only lead to problems further down the line.”
She encourages embracing your emotions fully. “The more you do, the more you will notice and relish the positive things when they do come along,” Bevan notes. “Optimism and hope are the routes back out of the hard times. Don’t force them, but remember that nothing stays the same forever, and the bad times will pass too.”
Finally, Bevan reminds us of the importance of connection: “If you have been stuck in one difficult emotion for a while, please find someone to talk to. Things are always more manageable when they are spoken about.”
#10
If Mr. Rogers met you there's a strong chance he'd be very proud of how far you've come.
UncleJohn3000 2 days ago
How funny is it that a Mr. Rogers fan is downvoting negative comments? Clues are available in the lobby.
#11
There is a social phenomenon called the “liking gap” where there tends to be a discrepancy between how much a person thinks another person likes them and that other person’s actual opinion of them.
Studies have found that people tend to *underestimate* how much people like them and want to spend time with them.
#12
Solar is already one of the cheapest forms of energy humanity has ever created, and it's still getting cheaper.
Child of the Stars 2 days ago (edited)
My city started putting up solar panels on all public buildings about 15 years ago. And when I say "all public buildings," I mean it. City hall, both branches of the public library, all the public schools, the social security office and DMV, even the main office for the buses, all of them. Currently, my city uses something like 45% solar energy for its energy needs and has saved the taxpayers several million dollars in energy costs.
#13
Most of the things we worry about never actually happen. There's a stat about this, a psychologist looked into it and found around 85% of what we worry about never becomes reality. It’s just our brains trying to keep us "prepared."
Bob Brooce 2 days ago
Wait. 15% of the stuff I worry about is going to happen? I am *so* f****d.
#14
Your brain is constantly rewiring itself, so even if you're stuck in a bad habit or mindset, you can always change it with enough effort, no matter how old you are.
#15
The only “normal” people are the ones you don’t know very well. Everyone is weird in their own unique way.
#16
An elevator can not drop if the cable breaks. Thank you Mr. Otis.
#17
Cows have best friends.
#18
If you can read this, your life is like waaaaay better than it would have been 100 years ago.
#19
Smiling even if you don't feel like it, can actually improve your mood.
lovemy suffolk 2 days ago
This actually works a bit. Forcing your cheeks into a grin, even if it just is more a baring of teeth, actually helps me feel calmer. Maybe not happy exactly, but calmer and a bit more pleasant. My daughter taught me this trick years back after learning about it at school. Initially I tried it to humor her, but darned if it doesn't help.
#20
Slow progress is still progress.
This fact helped me get through high school and currently college. No matter how behind you are, you are closer to being caught up with each assignment you complete. You are making progress no matter how small it seems.
#21
We’re made of the same atoms and quarks of stars, trillions of years before us. Essentially, we’re made of the universe; and in a way, that means we’re essentially the universe admiring itself. I think that’s pretty neat.
#22
**You have more control over your mindset than you might think.**
Even when external circumstances are difficult, you always have some degree of control over how you choose to respond. Practices like mindfulness, positive reframing, or simply choosing to pause before reacting can significantly shift your perspective and well-being. It’s empowering to know that you can steer your mindset, even in challenging times.
#23
That you do get a bit more self-assured in your 30s compared to your 20s and genuinely stop caring about what others think of you as much.
lovemy suffolk 2 days ago (edited)
Even better once you hit 40 and now I'm halfway through my 50's I've genuinely never been happier. Its wonderful!
#24
When you think about the times in your life you've been embarrassed, you're probably the only person in the world that remembers it and thinks about it.
Pandemonium 2 days ago
Except for that time that Sue drove off from the gas station with the pump nozzle yanked off its hose and stuck in her tank. That was memorable, Sue
#25
You are a mosaic of everything and everyone you've ever loved.
mtrbiknut:
I once read that we are "The sum of our education, our upbringing, and our experiences."
Giles McArdell 2 days ago
And your genetics, a lot of research I've read about suggests that much more of our base personality comes from our Genes than we like to think.
#26
Crime rates have continuously gone down year after year after year, objectively the world is a safer place than it was (for crime anyways) years ago the news just talks about it more now.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 days ago
They have 24 hours of screen time to fill and some days there isn't enough. So they start literally making things up. Actual News is stuff that happened and things people say. CNN, Fox "News" and the rest have been spending more and more time on "Editorial" News over the last two decades. Opinion pieces, talking heads. It's all garbage to fill airtime and make money.
#27
Humans have a natural ability to adapt to almost any situation, so no matter what happens, you’ll find a way to cope.
Panda McPandaface 2 days ago
The rise in the rate of people ending their own lives would not seem to coincide with this.
#28
Centralia, PA — the site of the long-burning underground fire — has been reclaimed by nature. I was there several years ago as a last-minute decision on the way to somewhere else, and was interested to see the Silent-Hill-style landscape and the big stretches of graffiti. It’s not there anymore. It’s big beautiful plants and trees.
If you know what you’re looking for, you can figure out where parts of individual houses are based on the pipes that remain, but that’s largely it. It was so comforting to be there, in a weird way. .
#29
It’s actually pretty rare for bats to have rabies. They’re terrible hosts for the disease. That being said, a bat that’s grounded etc is definitely sick, so it’s best not to touch it, just in case.
Child of the Stars 2 days ago
Generally speaking, it's best not to touch any animal you're not familiar with.
#30
Something like 130,000 people escape from extreme poverty every single day.
#31
There is always someone out there who loves you. Someone who notices your presence, and finds it comforting. Someone who thinks about how you made an impact on their lives. Someone who anticipates to hear your voice again. There's always someone. Things will be better buddy, I promise.
Panda McPandaface 2 days ago
No, not always. There are some people that are utterly alone in the world.
#32
You’ve already survived 100% of your bad days.
#33
There’s a lot of good government agencies trying to make things better. I work for a wastewater treatment plant that aims to do better than current guidelines and has been an industry leader in reducing emissions and protecting the environment. We’re among 60 of 20,000 agencies who have had 26 perfect years of protections. A lot of us want to make this world better and got into government to make things better.
#34
Penguins have lifelong mates and share childcare responsibilities.
#35
A single teaspoon of honey represents the life’s work of 12 bees.
#36
Heart attacks seldom come out of the blue and strike without prior notice. There are almost always tellable signs in advance, listen to your body and get checked out in doubt.
#38
Your survival instincts will kick in in ways that you never even imagined
I was road cycling, and I’m fairly experienced on the roads, but not any serious incidents. there was a car coming up to a stop sign. He slowed down, but then just continued moving forwards. I realized, at the last second that he was 100% running the stop sign and I was *going* to get hit. There was no way around it, I’m getting hit
To this day, I don’t actually know what I did in that last millisecond second to avoid being seriously injured. The car hit me, but I managed to do something to alleviate impact
I think about incidents like that and I am amazed that I am a dope in my everyday life yet there is a part of my brain that activates in situations like that.
Child of the Stars 2 days ago
Our brains have developed instincts that have developed from millions of years of evolution and been passed down from pre-human ancestors. People joke about the "monkey brain" or "lizard brain," but those instincts are very real. Our subconscious minds are far more aware of our surroundings than we give them credit for.
#41
Regarding Microplastics: this is not the first time this has happened.
The reason we have coal deep below the ground today is because for millions of years nothing existed to decompose trees. They just built up and up and up in ever deeper layers. Eventually something evolved to fill that niche, and today we have termites and fungus and wood eating bacteria, dozens of ways trees can be broken down by the natural world.
The same will happen with plastics. It will go away, in time. .
#42
When you sleep your brain is still working process and sort through your memories.
Child of the Stars 2 days ago
Isn't this basically what the REM cycle is and what causes dreams?
#43
80% of all IRS audits result in a refund.
Rick Seiden 1 day ago
I got a letter from the IRS that I was being audited. They said I forgot to declare some income. I looked into it, and I did, but I also didn't declare the taxes I had paid on that income. When I reworked my taxes, my refund should have been a few hundred more. I sent in the paperwork explaining things, and they sent back a letter saying the case was closed. I figured I just beat the IRS, so I wasn't willing to poke the bear and ask for the extra money.
#44
The longest living species is a jellyfish that can be biologically immortal.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 days ago
NOT SPECIES. ANIMAL species. There are plenty of microorganisms what reproduce by binary division that have been around longer.
#45
If 99% of people think you’re unattractive, there are still roughly 70 million people who think you’re attractive.
#46
Below are global facts that paint a very different picture of our world than the doom scrolling.
In 1930 90% of the worlds population were living in abject poverty (less than $2 a day adjusted for inflation). Today only 10% of the worlds population live in abject poverty. The economic activity of the wealthy and middle class in developed nations are globally fixing the problem.
In 1950, the average life expectancy at birth was only 48.5 years. In 2019, it was 72.8 years. That’s an increase of 50 percent.
Out of every 1,000 live births in 1950, 20.6 children died before their fifth birthday. That number was only 2.7 in 2019. That’s a reduction of 87 percent.
Between 1950 and 2018, the average income per person rose from $3,296 to $15,138. That’s an inflation adjusted increase of 359 percent.
Between 1961 and 2013, the average food supply per person per day rose from 2,191 calorie to 2,885 calories. That’s an increase of 31.7 percent.
In 1950, the length of schooling that a person could typically expect to receive was 2.59 years. In 2017, it was 8 years. That’s a 209 percent increase.
The world’s democratic score rose from an average of 5.31 out of 10 in 1950 to an average of 7.21 out of 10 in 2017. That’s a 35.8 percent increase.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 days ago (edited)
"Out of every 1,000 live births in 1950, 20.6 children died before their fifth birthday. That number was only 2.7 in 2019. That’s a reduction of 87 percent." THANK YOU VACCINES!
#47
Humans and bananas share about 60% of the same DNA.
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 2 days ago
Yeah we share about the same with ALL Eukaryotic organisms. You can sat the same thing about ants and walnuts and slime mold. Most DNA codes for proteins and all multicellular organisms are made of the same proteins.
#48
That most growth is done in and around relationships.
Aka
You have to experience in order to grow.
And I wish more people knew this so that they would give others more chances over writing them off right away (all within reason of course).
Lyone Fein 2 days ago
You don't need other people in order to have experiences. You only need to walk around the planet with your mind awake and engaged.
#49
Everything is made of energy, energy can’t be created or destroyed.
John Harrison 1 day ago
Interesting, but not "reassuring" in the slightest, lol. Great, if I'm blown up in a terrorist incident, my particles will be separated from each other, but they won't actually be destroyed.
#50
You are the product of 3.7 billion years of evolution. Life is resilient!
What do you think ?
zims 2 days ago
Reassuring statements mixed with animal facts. Not a bad article, keeps you from slipping into platitude miasma when reading about tiger saliva.
Daniel 1 day ago
One of the most oddly comforting things I've heard is: at some point in your adult life, someone has masturbated while thinking of you.
Mimi M 1 day ago
When I'm up in the spirit world and all knowledge is offered to me, I want to know all of the people who crushed on me.
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Phillip Moderow 15 hours ago
I think that too many of these pontifications are figments of an imagination.
zims 2 days ago
Reassuring statements mixed with animal facts. Not a bad article, keeps you from slipping into platitude miasma when reading about tiger saliva.
Daniel 1 day ago
One of the most oddly comforting things I've heard is: at some point in your adult life, someone has masturbated while thinking of you.
Mimi M 1 day ago
When I'm up in the spirit world and all knowledge is offered to me, I want to know all of the people who crushed on me.
Load More Replies... Phillip Moderow 15 hours ago
I think that too many of these pontifications are figments of an imagination.
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