50 Heartwarming Pictures From The ‘Wholesome Meets The Internet’ Account To Lift Your Spirits Up
It's easy to burn out, exhaust yourself, and end up unmotivated, thinking that there’s no good left on this planet. If that's the case, you’re in great need of some wholesomeness to show you that it’s not all bad.
Since the year is coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to reflect and remember how generous, selfless and thoughtful people can be. Enter the Wholesome Meets The Internet account, full of the most uplifting pics and stories to warm your heart.
We have collected some of the best posts to show you how lending a helping hand or doing a random good deed makes this world a little better. So get ready to regain your faith in humanity and be sure to upvote pics that made you smile the widest!
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When we help others, we actually help ourselves. Showing kindness fills our lives with happiness, improves our well-being and can even lengthen the time we have on Earth. Many researchers have been looking into the “helper’s high” and the effects it has on our physical and emotional health.
In one study, Dr. Stephen G. Post, a researcher, opinion leader, and best-selling author, wrote that “evidence for the benefits of giving is now extremely powerful, and suggests that healthcare professionals might wish to recommend such activities to patients.”
For more than 20 years, he has been promoting the idea of “give and live better” and studying altruism, generosity and kindness. Acting in good conscience appears to be an important factor for us to lead meaningful and satisfying lives because when we engage in kind acts, we reduce our own stress. Altruistic emotions—the “helper’s high”—seem to gain dominance over the stress response, Post told WebMD.
“Studies of telomeres—the end-caps of our genes—show that long-term stress can shorten those end-caps, and shortened end-caps are linked with early death,” he explained.
“These studies indicate that we’re dealing with something that’s extremely powerful. Ultimately, the process of cultivating a positive emotional state through pro-social behaviors—being generous—may lengthen your life.”
The need to do good comes from a simple fact that we humans are a social species. Our ability to be altruistic derived from the bonds we create with others: since people benefit from social support they receive, it’s no surprise that evolution would provide us with the capacity to give social support.
“Humans have evolved to be caring and helpful to those around us, largely to ensure our survival,” Post said. “In Darwin’s Descent of Man, he mentions survival of the fittest only twice. He mentions benevolence 99 times.”
When you see your friends and family assisting and helping out their loved ones or sometimes even complete strangers, you can’t help but feel the urge to do good too. According to research, simply watching someone else do the honorable thing inspires us as well.
There’s a study showing that when we witness kindness, we experience an uplifting feeling and become encouraged to act more altruistic ourselves. Psychological scientists Simone Schnall, Jean Roper and Daniel M.T. Fessler performed two experiments trying to find out whether feelings of elevation, evoked by observing another person perform a good deed, motivate us to help others.
In the first experiment, 59 participants were recruited and asked to watch two short videos. One group looked at a clip from The Oprah Winfrey Show while the other watched a neutral nature documentary. After the viewing, they received a receipt asking if they would be willing to take part in an additional, unpaid, study.
The results showed that people who experienced “elevation were more likely to volunteer for a subsequent unpaid study than were participants in a neutral state.”
36 students participated in the second experiment where they not only looked at a short clip but were also asked to do a 30-minute task. However, the experimenter “couldn’t” open the needed file and told the students that they were free to leave. When people got up, she asked whether they would be willing to complete another, unrelated task.
She “noted that the questionnaire was, unfortunately, rather boring, emphasizing that the participant was under no obligation” and could stop whenever they wanted, but that completing any number of the items would greatly assist the experimenter. People in the elevation condition spent roughly twice as much time on the questionnaire as participants in the other groups.
This is an awesome story that proves life is not that movie stereotype. More of these stories help the world feel that much gentler.
Both experiments provided convincing evidence that elevation, awakened by learning of another person’s good deeds, leads to selfless behavior. A kind gesture, no matter how small, creates something positive in this world. Looking at wholesome stories people share not only gives us a warm and fuzzy feeling inside but inspires us to be better as well.
Thanks, sobbing now. My poor husband was so alarmed and confused, but now he's just shushing me and petting my hair.
It's an old Buddhist thing too. How the Dalai Lama is chosen..they usually lay out a blanket with objects on it and wait to see what is chosen. Amongst the items is usually a beloved item of the previous Dalai Lama. If the person chooses that item, then they may become the next Dalai Lama.
James Fridman is a well-known p-shop prankster whose hilarious work has been shown on BP numerous times. It's really nice to see this side of him. @fjami013gmail.com
"Is that a kitty? Well I hope you've brought enough for the whole class!"
They remind me so much of my pet rats! They look just the same when they're asleep. <3
Cat pissed all his best spots are taken. Also oh lordy I want that sofa.
Sometimes is so easy to make someone day. A complement is always a good way.
Sorry for your loss and congrats on having been raised by such a loving and caring Dad!
I could have made this post. My son has said this more than once in his life. He's 19 and still holds my hand in public, hugs and kisses me. He's never once not told me he loves me when he gets out of the car...even in high school. I love him so.
Our futures are not defined by what the naysayers think of us. Power to you!
This doesn't sound healthy at all. It's great they keep in touch but calling every day? Three years later? What is the family going to do when the girl chooses to move on? This sounds like unprocessed grief that should be dealt with.
Maybe she came from foster homes or her family is abusive. Those of us from abusive home have chosen family. It’s much healthier than where we came from.
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People like this are amazing. My grandma is very ill and all the family is taking turns to take care of her and cheer her. Including my uncle and aunt in law who would not be expected to do it. Specially her since my uncle passed away. I love them and my grand is really grateful for it.
Seems like she just adopted herself into the family. My nephew (21) just broke up with a girl who did the same - she practically lived with him at my sister's house and was going to spend Christmas with us, instead of her own family (not normal in our culture until marriage or kids - whichever comes first). Now everything is super awkward, because the girl is still so attached to my sister and the rest of the family, and is constantly messaging them.
I read "choose your parents wisely" first and was very confused to say the least.
Honestly... that's a bit weird, I mean the daily calls. Being in touch with the family is really okay, don't misunderstand me.
It's called friendship. Just because she may one day go on to love someone else there is no reason to to give up on that friendship.
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I think you gained a sister. You seem okay with it so I don't see the harm. You might be the family she needs and that isn't bad in this situation. Obviously this might not be the situation for others in the same circumstance but you all seem fine with it.
My husband's mother blames me for his suicide to this day. I wish I had this instead
I hope you help her move on when she's ready and welcome her new partner.
It may sound a little bit unhealthy. But...we dont know this womans life. What if she had found a family with his that she never had and still doesnt have? Maybe his mom was a better mom to her than her own mom ever was. There could be lots of reasons for this to go on for so long. But I think it is sweet and also hope that she has truly dealt with the loss.
The Christmas Magic never dies but changes state. When you are young you are the recipient and the magic is the receiving of Christmas wonder. As you get older and learn certain truths, you get indoctrinated and become involved in the conspiracy of Christmas and feel the excitement of invoking the Christmas magic as you are trained for the next stage... The creator of Christmas magic where you have your own kids, and you get to enjoy the excitement on your kids faces over Christmas and then there is the final stage. The grand chronicler of Christmas magic where you pass onto your grandkids the mysteries of Christmas and enjoy the awe in their eyes, setting the stage for the parents and older kids to make the magic grow
Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
This post needs a trigger warning in the headline: CAUTION- CONTAINS ONION PEELING NINJAS
I would recommend reading this post to destress and regain some faith in humanity after reading the entitled relatives post
Telling my 9 year old granddaughter on Christmas Eve that her mummy has to stay in hospital & won’t be home for Christmas, with tears pouring down my face & she takes my hands and says “don’t cry Nana she’s in the best place to make her better”
These renew my faith in humanity! I cried though them all. I was already an emotional wreck today as my uncle was found dead in someone yard last night and today would have been his birthday. These brought a smile to my otherwise ugly crying face. Beautiful post!!!
Saved this post until the end of the day when I was alone because I knew I was going to blubber like a 4yr old with a skinned knee. More please!
My 7 year old nephew recently got his COVID shot. He is the first in line in front of several other kids and a 50ish year old man. Some of the kids are visibly scared and the guy must be getting forced by his employer because he is being a vocal jerk. My nephew ignores the guy, confidently walks up and gets his shot and then looks backs at the other kids and tells them its OK and it didn't hurt. So proud of him!
I love these, seriously. But most of these are reposts, no? Like, I've seen many of them on BP multiple times before.
Well of course you’re cynical. You thought your species would live forever
Load More Replies... This post needs a trigger warning in the headline: CAUTION- CONTAINS ONION PEELING NINJAS
I would recommend reading this post to destress and regain some faith in humanity after reading the entitled relatives post
Telling my 9 year old granddaughter on Christmas Eve that her mummy has to stay in hospital & won’t be home for Christmas, with tears pouring down my face & she takes my hands and says “don’t cry Nana she’s in the best place to make her better”
These renew my faith in humanity! I cried though them all. I was already an emotional wreck today as my uncle was found dead in someone yard last night and today would have been his birthday. These brought a smile to my otherwise ugly crying face. Beautiful post!!!
Saved this post until the end of the day when I was alone because I knew I was going to blubber like a 4yr old with a skinned knee. More please!
My 7 year old nephew recently got his COVID shot. He is the first in line in front of several other kids and a 50ish year old man. Some of the kids are visibly scared and the guy must be getting forced by his employer because he is being a vocal jerk. My nephew ignores the guy, confidently walks up and gets his shot and then looks backs at the other kids and tells them its OK and it didn't hurt. So proud of him!
I love these, seriously. But most of these are reposts, no? Like, I've seen many of them on BP multiple times before.
Well of course you’re cynical. You thought your species would live forever
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