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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!

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.”

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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.

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Elli Rahim
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stealthy, premeditated acts of kindness. Thank you for doing this.

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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.” 

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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. 

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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. 

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Elli Rahim
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is an awesome story that proves life is not that movie stereotype. More of these stories help the world feel that much gentler.

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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.

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Kelli Pike
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks, sobbing now. My poor husband was so alarmed and confused, but now he's just shushing me and petting my hair.

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Carol Emory
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Kay blue
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The police in Bristol, UK did the same. The lady they "arrested" was so happy.

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Stannous Flouride
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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Elli Rahim
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Congrats on nailing the recipe! She knows and I'm sure she loved it.

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Katie Lutesinger
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They remind me so much of my pet rats! They look just the same when they're asleep. <3

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buttonpusher
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cat pissed all his best spots are taken. Also oh lordy I want that sofa.

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setsuriseikou
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry for your loss and congrats on having been raised by such a loving and caring Dad!

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A B C
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwww, I can imagine the outburst of happiness of dogs hearing they will go to the park instead of waiting for their favourite hooman to FIIIIIINALLY come back after a long long day <3

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Susan Bosse
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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Elli Rahim
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Our futures are not defined by what the naysayers think of us. Power to you!

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cybermerlin2000
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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Romenriel
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Self-awareness is rare even in people who don't have any mental disability that makes it harder for them. Let's strive to be like this man.

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Note: this post originally had 100 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.