It feels like we’re living in a drought of good news. The past year hasn’t been an easy one and the general emotional state of people around the globe is not the best one. And how could it be otherwise with what we’ve all been dealing with lately?

But it turns out that feel-good news like this wholesome post can bring much-needed health benefits, especially in times of crisis. One study from Brigham Young University proved that sharing positive experiences, events, and stories has immense perks. The researchers invited participants to keep a journal of grateful experiences over four weeks, and share them with a partner twice a week. Those partners who received good news reported being in a better mood overall.

Moreover, reading bad news is able to stir up the hormones and spark the neurotransmitters that alter our mood. In the same way, exposing ourselves to positive information has a calming effect. According to the positivity advocate and writer Celia Abernethy, human-interest stories not only make us feel happier, they also increase trust and hope in humankind. “Stories about improved living and health conditions are uplifting and encouraging.”

Stories with happy endings, wholesome twists, and wonderful people assure readers that whatever happens, we will be fine because the world is full of great human beings. This hopeful thinking is what we critically need these days.