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“Very Important Positivity”: If You Are Feeling Down, These 50 Wholesome Posts Might Make Your Day
Interview
Autumn is nearly out in full force already, and many of you Pandas might be feeling a bit blue. Meanwhile, some of you might be under the weather, others might be worried about the rising cost of, well, everything, the war, and the ongoing pandemic. That’s on top of all the stress you might be facing at work, school, and home. However, life isn’t all completely dreary—there’s a lot of beauty and kindness out there, too. You just have to look closer.
So, in order to give you a well-deserved break from all the problems of the world and to bring a bunch of hope back into your lives, today we’re featuring the best of the best from the ‘Very Important Positivity’ Facebook page. It’s a celebration of everything good about the world, from altruistic people to happy pets, and everything in between.
Now, pick your favorite metaphor, and let’s go find that silver lining and/or remember to turn on the light, shall we? It’s almost impossible not to smile. Upvote your fave pics, and pop down by the comment section to tell us about the best thing that happened to you this week. Oh, and if you know someone who could use a good pick-me-up, be sure to pass this post along to them. There’s practically nothing better than spreading happiness.
Bored Panda reached out to the founder of 'Very Important Positivity,' Elle McGann, who kindly answered our questions about her project. "Initially, it [the page] was created to inspire by sharing people's achievements, allow people to share in the joy of the happy moments in life, and to be an alternative to the negative news and attitudes that can seem all-pervasive in modern life," she told us. Scroll down for our full interview about happiness and optimism, Pandas. And if you enjoyed the posts, make sure to follow the VIP socials.
More info: Facebook | Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
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#3
AppletreeChild 2 years ago
Also, not every divorce is due to people hating each other or something. Sometimes a divorce can save a relationship, heck, good friends of mine divorced only 2 years ago and they are best friends, better of than during their marriage.
"I definitely share a broader range of things than I did initially - I realized a momentary break from the world to enjoy a meme, a tweet, or something random that sparks joy really helps nourish the soul," Elle, the founder of the page, told Bored Panda. She revealed to us that she started 'Very Important Positivity' years ago to "stay connected to my audience after leaving my previous page," which was called 'Wholesome Memes.'
Bored Panda was curious to get the VIP page founder's opinion about the reason for the content's success. "I think content that feels good resonates with the joy that exists within us. When we create and share our experiences, it makes them bigger than ourselves—there is no better feeling than making someone laugh, feel lighter, or remain hopeful," Elle said.
#6
"After coming home from Iraq, Tyler's dad had nightmares so bad he feared closing his eyes. Tyler designed a smartwatch app to detect their onset and disrupt them with a gentle vibration. It just won FDA approval to treat PTSD-related nightmare disorders. Wholesome Moments"
"People enjoy content that allows them to forget about negativity, current events, and politics, and enjoy things that make them feel calmer and happier."
According to the creator of 'Very Important Positivity,' the secret to happiness and optimism during tough times is to stop looking for something hidden.
#7
Amanda Rose 2 years ago
First picture "What are you doing? Get it away from me!" Second picture "I swear, if you so much as lay a finger on my little marshmallow, I'm going to ruin your favorite shoes!"
"I find when I look within and face my pain, stress, or sadness, I’m able to create something that helps myself as well as others, it makes my life worth living. Tough times open the door to peace when you radically accept yourself. You already have what you need inside—joy, optimism, love are an accessible part of you, and when you let them take over, you’re unstoppable. Simply be!"
Over 600k people follow the ‘Very Important Positivity’ Facebook page for a source of laughter, wide smiles, and truly heartwarming content. Life’s never easy, but some periods of time are tougher than others.
#11
CookieCrump 2 years ago
How sweet! I know what this is like since I'm autistic, and people are kind enough to treat me like a regular human being.
The past few years, in particular, have been very difficult for a lot of people. Naturally, many folks might be feeling exhausted not just physically but also emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. And while some soul-healing memes aren’t the solution to all of life’s problems, they might just restore a bit of your faith in humanity and make you feel better about the state of the world for a few minutes. Heck, they might even inspire you to be kinder than usual today.
Here at Bored Panda, we genuinely think that laughter and (realistic) optimism can help people get through the darkest of times. It’s about finding a balance where you’re hoping for the best and taking actionable steps to make things better, while avoiding toxic positivity and total pessimism.
It’s fine to be realistic about what we can and cannot change. Healthy, even. But it’d be wrong to equate that to feelings of powerlessness. Small acts of kindness reach farther than we might expect them to. Kindness begets more kindness. And small collective actions towards a brighter future add up very quickly.
When we give others a helping hand, we’re also taking care of our happiness at the same time. The friendly team at ‘Action for Happiness’ explained to Bored Panda during an earlier interview that there are 10 keys to happier living: “Giving, relating, exercising, awareness, trying out, direction, resilience, emotions, acceptance, and meaning. We are likely to be happier if our lives have direction, meaning, and purpose and if we are part of something bigger than ourselves.”
If you’d like to invite more kindness into your life and don’t know where to start, you can always the people closest to you. Perhaps you might be able to help your neighbor with something. Or volunteer in your local area. Start off small, focus on the things you’re grateful for, and look for opportunities to lend someone a helping hand.
“When we do things for others it activates the reward center in the brain, so when we give a gift it feels the same as receiving a gift," the team at ‘Action for Happiness’ told us earlier, adding that kindness is the “social glue that keeps us together” as a society. Humans are a very social species after all.
Some ideas for being altruistic range from giving money to charity and donating to a food bank to volunteering for a cause or leaving a food package or a cheery note for an elderly neighbor. It all depends on the time and other resources you have available.
#23
"Father overhears his son telling his boyfriend he plans to come out, so he left him this note..."
“All of these actions help others and boost your own happiness and if we are happier, research shows we are even more likely to help others,” the AfH team said.
It’s perfectly fine to ‘fake it till you make it’ if kindness doesn’t come naturally to you or if you constantly think about the rewards of helping others. It’s a skill that you can learn.
#25
Billy Harrelson 2 years ago
Same with my aunt. Died last year at the age of 80 but she's forever on Google checking the mail while taking a break from mowing.
#27
TuesdayDangerGirl 2 years ago (edited)
Six people were a match and here is an update. "Oscar had been receiving treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia since 2018, initially at Birmingham Children's Hospital, before the family made the decision to go to Singapore for the CAR-T therapy, which was not available to him on the NHS. The treatment is specifically developed for individual patients and involves reprogramming their immune system cells, which are then used to target their cancer." (they received £500,000 through crowdfunding in order to do this and have since returned home - he has additional treatments going forward. June 2021)
“Maybe at first, you start out doing things to help others only to get attention and praise, but you will find that doing things for others helps you feel good and when you see people’s responses. Once you see the difference you can make in the world and to your own happiness and altruism can grow naturally.”
#30
Local foodie 2 years ago
well they are certainly evolved versions of their past selves
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Jordi Sharpe 2 years ago
Some of us are lucky to be born into a body that reflects our inner selves. Some of us are not. I would never begrudge a person for striving to be who they want to be. Personal evolution is essential.
Lakota Wolf 2 years ago (edited)
I'm old (Gen X!) and have never had a problem/issue with respecting people and calling them by their preferred names/genders/pronouns. So I just don't understand why everyone can't learn to do so; all it takes is respecting the other person. I'm female and I have an ex who is my age and thinks I "need to take better care of my appearance", as in, dress more femininely and wear makeup. Nope sorry, I'm gonna keep on wearing my men's cargo shorts that I bought at Costco XD Ex also thinks that me wanting to dye my hair and get a side-shave (undercut? fade? idk what they call it, but I mean, get one side of my head shaved) is "only because" I want to call attention to myself and "signal" that I'm "that kind of person" who wants attention. No, jerkwad, it's because I LIKE THE COLOR BLUE and I want blue hair! >:( He also often "forgets"(refuses?) to refer to trans people by their names and genders. (e.g. he'll refer to Elliot Page as "Ellen Page" and still use "she/her" pronouns for him.)
ItsJess 2 years ago
Gen X here and I completely agree, I try to explain to folks, "it's no different than you asking me if I like to be called Jess or Jessica the first time I meet you". Asking a person what they prefer to be called is the least you can do. Also I'm super glad your ex is an ex, he sounds like a douchebagel.
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mYst17 2 years ago (edited)
Yes some Pokemon change gender when they evolve too! Roselia -> Roserade
Lonely Leafeon 2 years ago (edited)
Actually this isn't true. You may be thinking of Azurill. Here's an excerpt explaining the reason why. -Prior to Generation VI, because Azurill's gender ratio does not match that of its evolved forms and its evolution is not dependent on gender, being female 75% of the time while Marill and Azumarill are female-only 50% of the time, one out of three female Azurill evolves into a male Marill (depending on its personality value). Azurill is the only Pokémon to do this. From Generation VI on, Azurill retains its gender upon evolving, despite the gender ratios still differing.- Link https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Azurill_(Pok%C3%A9mon) I've had it happen in an older game myself.
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Alana Voeks 2 years ago
I'll venture to say, too, if you're transitioning after being known as one person for a long time too, it will take people a moment to remember, especially if they don't handle change well. You can tell when those around you are genuinely trying and just forget compared to those being malicious. Everything takes some patience.
Helen Witten 2 years ago
I have always thought that if a person is willing to submit themselves to all those medical procedures etc they deserve to be of their chosen sex. Simple as that.
Tobias Reaper 2 years ago
i get the point but trans people dont go around saying their name all the time like pokemon do
Wednesday 2 years ago
My nieces became my nephew and (being nonbinary) my niecfew? my nephice? My sister's other kid...lol
Dee 2 years ago
Nibling is the term you’re searching for Wednesday, your sibling’s child is your nibling :)
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Shelli Aderman 2 years ago
THIS! (Although I do call the different Eevie evolutions, “Water Eevie, shocking Eevie, fire Eevie,” etc. 🤣)
Adam Belaire 2 years ago
The problem I see is the ones that have a problem with names and genders of Trans folks are the ones that question why you play "pokiman" and not reading your bible.
The lesbian knitting panda 2 years ago
*in old wheezing voice* this is what happens when you play them video games and listen do that goddam rock music and do that whole homosexuality!
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Marnie 2 years ago
Yes. On the flip side, be respectful of non-trans and non-non-binary people, please? I'd like to not be called a b***h for wondering if a jacket I saw at Ren Fest that was too expensive to try on was made for a man or a woman (meaning the fit/cut). Trans people exist and deserve respect. Men and women are real things and we deserve respect and deserve not to be told that there is no such thing. (How can you even be trans if there is no such thing as men and women? You wouldn't be trans, you'd just be non-gendered or non-binary.)
#31
"I noticed a guy on Fb that was better than me at mounting TVs so instead of hating on him, I reached out and offered to pay him to teach me how to perfect my craft. He didn't accept the money, instead we formed a partnership and the rest is history. Brothers don't hate, we elevate each other."
#34
Helen Waight 2 years ago
This one always bugs me on the rare occasions I go clothes shopping. The exercise stuff, or leggings or sports bras…never go up to plus sizes. Gimme something I can wear to my physio appointments!
#40
Helen Waight 2 years ago
A clear red flag back when I was dating (been married nearly 20 years) was anyone who mocked my hobbies and collections or said anything about how I should get rid of them or ‘grow up’. My husband has his collections, I have mine, and we make space for each other’s even if we don’t understand them.
#44
#46
"My sister had her first son today, I caught a rare moment between two fathers"
#49
"My uncle and grandma on their way to a pride parade in the '80s"
Helen Waight 2 years ago
Oh this, this really got to me. What a beautiful picture of love and support. Don’t judge others if we’re LGBTQ, just accept we’re as much people as you are.
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What do you think ?
Yeah, okay. 2 years ago
I don't care of some of these are reposts. It's just so good to read heartwarming things because I get so sad at some of the depressing things we see every day.
D. Pitbull 2 years ago
With all the idiotic nonsense and c**p that goes on... sometimes I wonder if these posts should be less closely "culled" or curated ... (noting the "This post used to be 125 images" note at the bottom). It's nice to have a feelgood post to "deal" with the built up negativity other things incur.
Steve 2 years ago
Here's my positive moment: During the serious part of the pandemic, I was out shopping when some stranger approached me smiling. I could tell he was smiling because he wasn't wearing a mask. He says with a grin: "You're a gullible idiot for wearing a mask! They cause cancer, and I bet you got vaccinated too! You know those are a plot to wwwheeeeeeg!!!". That last bit was the sound he made when my foot got introduced to mr. crotch. Seemed pretty positive to me.
Brendan 2 years ago
You violently attacked a stranger for having a different opinion to you. And you think this belongs in a 'wholesome posts' article.
Load More Replies... Yeah, okay. 2 years ago
I don't care of some of these are reposts. It's just so good to read heartwarming things because I get so sad at some of the depressing things we see every day.
D. Pitbull 2 years ago
With all the idiotic nonsense and c**p that goes on... sometimes I wonder if these posts should be less closely "culled" or curated ... (noting the "This post used to be 125 images" note at the bottom). It's nice to have a feelgood post to "deal" with the built up negativity other things incur.
Steve 2 years ago
Here's my positive moment: During the serious part of the pandemic, I was out shopping when some stranger approached me smiling. I could tell he was smiling because he wasn't wearing a mask. He says with a grin: "You're a gullible idiot for wearing a mask! They cause cancer, and I bet you got vaccinated too! You know those are a plot to wwwheeeeeeg!!!". That last bit was the sound he made when my foot got introduced to mr. crotch. Seemed pretty positive to me.
Brendan 2 years ago
You violently attacked a stranger for having a different opinion to you. And you think this belongs in a 'wholesome posts' article.
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