Our Earth can be a rough place. But you don't need me to remind you of it. The media is already full of stories about anger, deceit, and wreckage. And while we can't ignore our problems, hoping they might just go away, we do sometimes need a break from them.
To remind you that there's still plenty of goodness in this world, Bored Panda put together a new list of feel-good posts from all across the internet. Personal growth, empathetic relationships, we included everything. But if you scroll through the publication and your heart still needs more warmth, fire up our earlier renditions of wholesomeness here, here, and here.
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I Don’t Need This Anymore! After 16 Surgeries To Fix A Birth Defect And Years In A Wheelchair I’ve Finally Been Cleared To Start Walking
I’m not very good at it yet, it’s painful, and can’t go far distances but I can walk! Thank you for reading - I’m very excited.
COVID has posed a threat not just to our bodies but our minds as well. But it's quite difficult to determine increases in cases of depression and anxiety because of a lack of data. However, despite these gaps, a team largely based at the University of Queensland in Australia has tried to come up with an estimate for 2020, and the numbers are devastating.
If the pandemic had not happened, the model used by the researchers suggested there would have been 193 million cases of major depressive disorder worldwide, whereas an estimated 246 million cases actually occurred, a 28 percent increase, or an added 53 million cases. For anxiety disorders, the number of cases was anticipated at 298 million, but there may have been as many as 374 million cases—a 26 percent jump, representing an additional 76 million cases.
According to clinical psychologist Seth J. Gillihan, Ph.D., anxiety can come from any situation we care about when the outcome is uncertain. "Common sources include our health, relationships, finances, work, time pressure, and social situations, among others," the creator of The CBT Deck for Anxiety, Rumination, & Worry, a set of cards that helps people to find equilibrium and focus on what they love, told Bored Panda.
"Anxiety is our mind and body's way of getting our attention and telling us to pay attention to something important. Unfortunately, anxiety is often an unwelcome and unpleasant experience because it can be so uncomfortable and even overwhelming."
Today I Got Married And No One From My Family Came To My Wedding Because It Was A Gay Wedding. Well, The Good Thing About Life Is That We Get To Choose Our Own Family
It makes me sad that this is still happening to LGBTQ+ people all over the world. I feel so blessed that everyone I loved attended my wedding with my now wife. And also that no-one ever had any problem with the fact that I would find love with a woman, and especially with this particular woman. We are almost 15 years together and more than 12 years married. Love is love, and I really hope this whole world will see that someday!
There's no such thing as a biological obligation. F**k those assholes who don't see the love between you two.
"We Get To Choose Our Own Family" - this is so true and needs to be taken notice of especially by all the people who only classify having children as a family.
I was once told, "You have to LOVE your family... but you don't have to LIKE them." There's a lot of truth to that.
Load More Replies...You guys look so happy, as ya should on your special day! Congratulations from wexford, ireland. In regard to your family not showing up,(their loss) my gran who passed at 102 had a saying..... Look not for the flaws as you go through life or even when you find them, tis wise and tis kind to be somewhat blind and look for the virtue behind them. ( I dunno maybe talk to them about it again, maybe ye could come to an agreement to accept but disagree with each others beliefs? Theirs are archaic bless them, but it's how they were brought up.) hope ye guys have a great first Xmas as a married couple!
So happy for you both! Congratulations! Know that there are so many people out there that are thrilled for you and celebrate your love.
Aww... I went to my daughter's wedding 3 weeks ago, first gay wedding I have been to. All of both family were there xx (except those in other states)
So sorry that your families chose to miss out on this wonderful occasion. People fall in love with who they fall in love with, and you both look so happy. Best wishes for a great future together! ❤️
Congrats! I hope the family comes around, but, if they don', build a beautiful one yourselves.
Marriage is difficult as it is without being snubbed by family. Grow up, people. this is not the middle ages nor is it the middle east. We are more enlightened, now. Right?
We certainly can! Congratulations on your marriage! May you have a great one!
You deserve better.Now you can continue forward and surround yourself with people you choose- Best wishes for a great life
Congratulations. You will make a new family from your friends. You will know who they are when you meet them.
I'll be happy to be a "surrogate" sister! Michelle from San Diego, CA
Such a disgrace that bigotry like that still exists.. I hope the two of you will be very happy together !
Congratulations. You make a beautiful couple. Sorry you were alone on your special day. They will be full of regret down the road that they missed such an important day in your lives.
So the family's love was conditional on tradition.......so sad! I am very happy that you found each other, have a wonderful live!
Everyone should have their chance at happiness! Families start at two people.
I would have came. I would have celebrated. I am doing a little dance for you right now. CONGRATULATIONS 🎉👏
So Sorry To Hear How Narrow Minded People Can Be.....Wishing You Guys A Very Happy Life Together
It's their loss. Congratulations on your wedding and a very happy life ahead for you both xx
Yes...the family you choose is usually better than the one you're stuck with.
I wish there was a way to register to celebrate with someone. Heck yes I will support you!! I would be happy to go to your wedding!!
Good for both of you .dont need bigots in family .there more than enough already in this world
I am sorry. Enjoy your life with your husband. I hope you succeed in everything you choose to do.
I am so sorry. Celebrate your life and have joy with your husband. Good luck in all that you do.
𝓑𝓮 𝓮𝔁𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓲𝓰𝓸𝓽𝓼 𝓫𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓪𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓷𝓮𝓰𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓵𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓫𝓸𝓽𝓱
Handsome couple! Congratulations and best wishes from Canada. Love long and prosper!
If you get a do-over, I'll adopt you and then attend the wedding. Your family is missing out; I feel sorry for them.
Wonderful, except that they look like father and son! Can no-one else see the resemblance?
My gay daughter’s wedding to her wonderful wife was joyful for my husband and me and our entire family. What awful, bigoted, sad people to boycott their child’s wedding. Much happiness to the loving couple!
We were front and center with our entire family at our gay daughter’s wedding to our wonderful daughter-in-law. My sister presided. It was a joyful occasion. How sad for your bigoted parents.
Sad your “family” didn’t come to your wedding but glad you didn’t let them stop you and your love! Congratulations 🎈🎊🍾
Your blood “family” is s**t. Your CHOSEN family is LOVE! Congrats to the gorgeous and happy couple!!!!
If that's how your family feels, then they don't deserve the privilege of having you in their life. I will honestly never understand people like that.
Congratulations! I would have been there. It would’ve been wonderful I’m sure!
The ONLY losers are the family members who refused to attend!!! Your chosen family is better than any blood-line family you could hope for!!! Congrats on your marriage!!! I hope you have a slew of kids, because your family needs more of YOUR genes!!!
So sad that your biological family cannot grow enough to celebrate your loving relationship with your chosen partner. I say, congratulations to you both for being able to move past this upsetting stage of your life. Maybe, one day, those who turned their backs on you, might re-think their ethics. In the mean-time, Celebrate without them.
Congratulations . I'm sorry your family sucks , I hope the family you choose gives you all the love you deserve
So sorry your families feel that way. Congratulations! Everyone deserves to be happy and loved!
I wish I could have come to your wedding, you seem so wonderful together, I'd be honoured to have been a part of it Xxx
Congratulations and best wishes!!! Great picture, you both look so happy.
So the family chose hate. That path leads only to the dark side. You chose the light.
Well, they are the one who lost a beautiful demonstration of real love! Congratulations for your wedding!
And there are tons of moms and dads, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles who will happily and proudly stand in for your wedding. This mama would have cried and rejoiced in your union and love.
Congratulations! Sorry about your family's attitude. Hopefully they will learn acceptance!
Congratulations i wish you bot a long healthy happy wonderful life 🌈
Congratulations. Choose your own family. Perhaps they will find love eventually and recognize love you too have for each other. Have a marvelous life together
Congratulations on your wedding. Wishing you both a life of happiness. It's an honour to be a guest at a wedding and clearly the people who didn't turn up didn't deserve such an honour.
So you share a few more genes with them than with the rest of us. Big deal. You have your own family now. All the best to you.
I am so glad I was raised right, and I get to raise my daughter right too! Love is Love.
I am sorry you're family doesn't support your happiness but it's great yoy found each other
Congratulations and good luck to you both. If people can't be happy for you not support you then you're better off not having them in your life
I would have come.... so would a lot of good folks. Here's to the groom and groom!
Banda Familie is all here to wish you both all the best... For this life and all the other ones.
congratulations! sorry about your family though, but i wish you a happy life!
Congratulations!!!! Just remember if they can't be bothered to support you then your are not obligated to help them when they need you. Unfortunately people like your family who can't even be bothered to be happy for you always wonder why you won't drop everything for them when they are in need. I'm sorry that your having to deal with this but your right! You do get to pick your family at times and definitely get to pick your friends and it looks like now your best friend is your family. ♥.
I’m sorry? You want the marriage couple to “respect” homophobia and hate? I don’t think so.
Load More Replies...Rejected From Police Training For Being "Too Friendly"
Sheryl Paul, who has an MA in Jungian Counseling and has guided thousands of people worldwide through her books, courses, private sessions, and blog, reassured Bored Panda that everyone has anxiety. "It's built-in to our biology and is part of our evolutionary survival mechanism," the author of The Wisdom of Anxiety said.
"But the most common causes of anxiety I see in modern life are among highly sensitive people who struggle with the fear of loss or death and the need for certainty. This can be triggered around parenting, money, relationships, identity, the planet — in short, the things that matter most to us. Anxiety is the psyche’s way of letting us know that we’re in danger, so it serves an essential evolutionary function. We run into trouble, however, when we misinterpret symptoms of anxiety — racing heart, shortness of breath, tight chest — as true, physical danger instead of understanding that most likely the danger is internal."
"For example, people who find their way to my work often struggle with relationship anxiety ... which causes them to spiral down a rabbit hole of trying to figure out if they're with the 'right' person. It's the wrong question and can lead to mental torture. Is there danger in intimate relationships? Absolute. But if you're with a safe partner the 'danger' is pointing to unhealed beliefs and wounds around love and intimacy which are then projected onto the current, loving partner."
According to Paul, anxiety manifests itself in other areas in a pretty similar way: "we project our inner sense of unsafety and vulnerability onto health or kids or work or money or the earth. Everything changes when we understand the concept of projection and can start to take true responsibility for what needs attention inside."
This Veterinarian Has A Comfort-Dog Assistant That Helps Sick Patients Know That Everything Will Be Alright
“It’’s gonna be ok. Vet has done this hundreds of times. You’ll see your human shortly.”
Enjoying A Beautiful Hike After Finding Out That There Is No More Stage 4 Colon Cancer In My Body
An 87-Year-Old Woman Called The Police Emergency Number In Florence, Italy, Saying She Was Alone And Hungry. This Was The Result
Sheryl Paul said that modern anxiety often manifests as a misguided attempt to find solid ground. An attempt to answer fundamentally unanswerable questions. "The anxious mind believes that if it can land on the 'correct' answer it can find certainty, and that certainty equals safety. The truth is that there's very little that's certain in our day-to-day lives, and certainly, the future is always uncertain," she explained.
"Everything feels even more uncertain right now because of the pandemic and the other systemic issues that have been brought to light these past couple of years, but life has always been uncertain because loss and illness and death exist. The highly sensitive person, who is the person most prone to anxiety, has known this from an early age (the most common early sign of anxiety in highly sensitive children is the fear that their parents will die)."
The good news is that these methods work. The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) claims that anxiety disorders are highly treatable. But the bad news is that only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment. The approaches that have proved to be effective are therapy, medication, complementary and alternative treatment, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Paul, for example, teaches both on-the-spot tools and deep-dive practices for working with anxiety. "On-the-spot tools are things like Tonglen, which is the Buddhist practice of breathing into the pain or fear and breathing out the opposite. Over time, this helps us re-wire the mind’s habit of pushing away things that are uncomfortable. A significant part of breaking free from anxiety’s stronghold is learning to tolerate discomfort, which means making room for the uncomfortable thoughts and feelings as they arise."
The deep dive practices, on the other hand, hinge on growing what the counselor calls a solid and reliable inner parent or wise self "who can choose which thoughts to respond to and learn how to meet big feelings with compassion."
"Growing spiritual practices that help tap into a sense of trusting life can also be life-changing when struggling with anxiety, for anxiety’s most salient message is that life isn’t safe," Paul said.
"One of the strongest tenets of my work is that anxiety is a protector and a messenger. If we try to get rid of the symptoms too quickly, we miss the message, which is often pointing us in the direction of unhealed places inside that need attention and also an invitation to grow trust. As I often say in my work, the opposite of uncertainty isn’t certainty; it’s trust. And that’s self-trust, trust in others, and trusting in something bigger than you."
Proud Of Myself. After Months Of Severe Depression And Anxiety, Followed By A Suicide Attempt And A Hospital Stay, I’ve Worked On It In Therapy And Now Have A New Job. Wish Me Luck
Wonderful Moment
It Is Going Pretty Well
Gillihan said that anxiety's power lies in its ability to affect our whole being—our body, mind, and spirit. "Our bodies will feel the tension and stress that anxiety creates, as our sympathetic nervous system turns on to prepare us for action and our hormone system releases chemicals like cortisol. Our minds feel the strain of anxious thoughts and worries about everything that could go wrong. And our spirits feel the weight of anxiety, which can be a crushing experience when it's really high," the clinical psychologist explained.
So it's important to actively fight it.
Gillihan summarizes his approach to anxiety in three stages which he collectively calls 'Think Act Be.'
"THINK means tend to anxious thoughts, and question the ones that tell us bad things are going to happen. Usually, those thoughts aren't grounded in reality. While bad things do happen at times, our fears don't come true the vast majority of the time. Notice the stories your mind is telling you, and ask yourself if there's another possibility for how things might go—including that things turn out pretty much okay."
Then there's ACT. This includes gradually facing our fears without any actual danger and stopping anxiety from controlling our actions. "Any time we avoid something that causes anxiety, we strengthen our fear [response] and make it more likely that we'll avoid it in the future. Facing our fears makes them shrink," Gillihan highlighted.
"And finally, BE means focus on the present and open to your experience exactly as it is. Anxiety is about the future, so being in the present and noticing your senses tends to decrease anxiety. Opening to your experience can also help to calm the nervous system, since you're no longer fighting to make sure things turn out okay. Just let things be as they are and be willing to give up the control that was never really yours to begin with."
As William S. Burroughs has famously said, your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.
After I Found Out My Girlfriend Was Pregnant I Signed Up To Rehab For My Addiction. Last Week I Became A Father And Picked Up My 3-Month Coin
Best week of my life.
I Just Bought My First House
I'd Been Giving My New Neighbor's Dogs Treats And Scratches Every Morning When I Headed Out To Work. This Is My Kitchen Window When I Woke Up On My First Day Off
Afghanistan: They Will Not Go School Without Their Sister
Before And After Beating Cancer. 2019-2020-2021
"Dumbledore's Bookshelf" Quilt; Happy With How It Turned Out
I Designed A 3D Printed Mirror Array To Propose! The Mirrors Are Angled So That Just Before Sunset, They Reflect The Sunlight To Spell "Marry Me?"
My Mum Finally Escaped An Abusive Relationship And Found Herself A Little Place. No Furniture Yet But She Just Sent Me This And I’m So Proud
This Little Girl's Rock Displayed In My Local Museum
Animals Really Are Man’s Best Friends
A similar thing happened to my daughter! She fed some crows her leftover breakfast for a few months last spring and one of them brought her a paper clip and then a soda tab!
That’s A Hero Right There
Oh my heart....don't cry don't cry don't cr...too late. So so happy for you lil one
A Great Heads Up
90-Year-Old Grandfather With Dementia, Hugging My 4-Year-Old Son. Grandfather Who Can't Remember Us Most Days Said "I Really Love This Kid, I'm Glad He's Here"
Whenever We Foster A Singleton Kitten, Our Dog Becomes A Foster Mama
While Walking His Dogs, A 71-Year-Old Man Had A Seizure. These Two Dogs Saved Their Owner
One of the dogs immediately sat next to the man protecting him, while the other dog went to find a passerby he could alert and bring to the scene. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
If you ever see a service dog without its human, follow it and it will lead you back to its owner, who is probably in some kind of physical distress
A Heartwarming Conversation From Twitter
Lost 200 Pounds During Covid. Today I Completed A Half Marathon
Good On The Neighbor For Looking Out Though
Really, Get Her That Pony
After Years Of Tooth Pain And Hiding My Smile, I Got Dentures! They Literally Made Me Smile
Have PTSD And I Struggle With Being Outside. This Is My "I've Been Walking In The Woods 2 Days In A Row" Smile. Small Steps Forward
The Guy Who Does The Grass For My Building Left A Rectangle Of Wild Flowers So The Bees Can Use Them
Before And After: My Daughter Battling A Combination Of RSV, Rhino Enterovirus, And Bacterial Pneumonia. She Almost Died, But She’s Now Home Safe And Sound
I Ditched Going To My In-Laws So I Could Have Thanksgiving With The Stray Cat That Lives In My Garage
Ron Came To The Vet Clinic As A Stray. After A Few Weeks, He Started Making Rounds To See Patients, And Would Sit Next To Any Pet While They Were Asleep, Offering Comfort
I Am A Big Brother With Big Brothers Big Sisters. Here Is The First Day I Met My Little Brother And The Day He Served As My Best Man - 6 Years Later
My Husband And I Celebrated 10 Years Of Marriage Today
My Daughter Is Obsessed With Halloween. We Bought Her A Skeleton Costume For Her Birthday And She Insisted On Putting It On Immediately, With A Birthday Hat
10 Days Ago, Somebody Poisoned My 11-Year-Old Fluffball Leon In My Own Garden. Against All Odds, He Made It Through
He is back home recovering from caused trouble for a while longer. The vet called him a miracle; so proud of you my grumpy old kitty.
Bad Times Pass But Good Acts Remain
Everyday This Guy Walks By Our House And Lifts Up His Dog For A Look At Our Neighbor's Rabbit
3 Years After Becoming Paralyzed From The Chest Down, I Am Now Able To Stand After Getting A Special Frame That Allows Me To Do So
How the heck does this work? looks like some kind of transforming wheelchair?
Good Taste In Music Brings Neighbors Together
This Big Brother Helps His Baby Sister Use The Doggie Door. He Stands There And Lets The Baby Go Through His Legs
The House Was Way Too Quiet While The Foster Kittens Were Out Having Playtime And My Boyfriend Was Supposed To Be Watching Them. I Found Everyone Like This
Donated My Swimmies To My Sister's Girlfriend And I'm Now A Proud Uncle To My Donor Child
Be That One Today
New Woman, Same Phone Case
Missing Cat Owner Posted A Follow Up Where The Previous Missing Posters Were
Beats Putting "Clean Me" On It
My Best Friend's "Not Engagement" Announcement I Just Got In The Mail
To all the people reading this: You are beautiful, you are unique, you have so much talents. You are a special protagonist in your story. This may be the end of 2021. If there's any good things happen in your life, keep moving forward because it's not the end of the story, this is a new chapter of your life. If bad things had happened to you, don't stop, keep marching, because you are in your character development story. We may have never meet face to face before, but we are friends that shaking hands and said how do you do, no matter where we are from, what color we have, if we are are part of queer or not or what religions we follow. May your day fill with rainbows
I'd like to add to this! I am a writer. I manipulate the lives of dozens if not hundreds of characters. Whenever I allow my characters to have a tough time in their life, it is because I want them to rise to greatness in the future. One of my primary characters lived through the deaths of her best friends, suffered a stillbirth which resulted in her breaking up with her boyfriend, and was neglected by her parents as a child. She goes on to become the queen of her country, the greatest queen that had ever ruled. Keep in mind that in rough times, the author of your story is writing you a good future even as you suffer now. Stay strong, my beloved friends.
Load More Replies...You know what I like about BP is so many people here are positive and helpful and willing to see the good and point to it.
Oh yeah, whaddya know about it?! Kidding, I agree. Just wanted to write something to push down the other comment.
Load More Replies...I agree. Very messy too. Sick and lonely people, the happy dogs...acts of random and people feel like heroes... Nonsense.
Load More Replies...To all the people reading this: You are beautiful, you are unique, you have so much talents. You are a special protagonist in your story. This may be the end of 2021. If there's any good things happen in your life, keep moving forward because it's not the end of the story, this is a new chapter of your life. If bad things had happened to you, don't stop, keep marching, because you are in your character development story. We may have never meet face to face before, but we are friends that shaking hands and said how do you do, no matter where we are from, what color we have, if we are are part of queer or not or what religions we follow. May your day fill with rainbows
I'd like to add to this! I am a writer. I manipulate the lives of dozens if not hundreds of characters. Whenever I allow my characters to have a tough time in their life, it is because I want them to rise to greatness in the future. One of my primary characters lived through the deaths of her best friends, suffered a stillbirth which resulted in her breaking up with her boyfriend, and was neglected by her parents as a child. She goes on to become the queen of her country, the greatest queen that had ever ruled. Keep in mind that in rough times, the author of your story is writing you a good future even as you suffer now. Stay strong, my beloved friends.
Load More Replies...You know what I like about BP is so many people here are positive and helpful and willing to see the good and point to it.
Oh yeah, whaddya know about it?! Kidding, I agree. Just wanted to write something to push down the other comment.
Load More Replies...I agree. Very messy too. Sick and lonely people, the happy dogs...acts of random and people feel like heroes... Nonsense.
Load More Replies...