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.
My ex was like this (we broke up because we wanted different things in life, not because of drama). It was one of his most attractive qualities to call his mother and sister every other day and telling them he loved them. Nothing sexier than a man who is unashamed and unafraid of showing affection to the people he holds dear
Not heartwarming, but funny ... at least for me. I once brought my son his gym clothes to school, because he'd left them at home (he was around 14 or 15). He was standing in front of the gym with some of his classmates, when I arrived. After he took his gym bag, he thanked me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. One of his "friends" made fun of it. My son just said: You have a problem? Although ... I wouldn't want to kiss someone like YOUR mother either.
Couple years ago, I was helping my teen daughter look for her phone. We roamed the house while I called it. I found it. The screen said- Mom- my role model before I even knew what the words meant. There may have been tears.
Shortly after my son came home for the Naval Academy at Christmas his first year, he said to my, while laying down on the couch watching tv, he looked up at me as I passed by and said "Mom, have I ever thanked you for raising me the way you did?" - tears hit me whenever I think of that. Especially now that he's been gone 15 yrs.
Aww I’m sorry he’s gone. Sounds like you had a beautiful relationship. Thank you for sharing.
Load More Replies...It actually sounds pretty badass when someone has that outlook. Cos there is no way to reply without looking like an idiot.
My kids always say "I love you dad" to me before they leave for school or go to bed. I say the same. I tell my wife I love her before she leaves or before we go to bed. I tell my best friend that I love him. I tell my cousin that I love her. When my grandparents were alive, I said "I love you" as well. It's just being human.
am 30 and give my mom grey hair whenever I can but when that old lady that drives me up the wall when we spend more than two days around each other needs something I am in my car and there. In church I always hold her hand and in public she has to lock into my arms so I am sure she doesn't fall or get hurt
My son ALWAYS tells me he loves me not matter where we are or who's around.
my son has done this too, he worded it a bit different, "I'm sorry your don't love your moms but I do" lol. After that all his buddy's will yell "Love you" to me if they hear me in the background. It's so cute.
Our futures are not defined by what the naysayers think of us. Power to you!
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
I hope that her friend would return her love. Or, because life is not always perfect, at least knew and appreciated it. U love who u love 💕
Now THAT is pride in the fruits of your toil. We also need the name of that restaurant...Italian bread and olive oil from the family farm! Yum!
I was this kid and the gift of reading is one of the best things you can give a child ❤️❤️
Did this once; husband and I caught some hard-core punk/goth kids busting out to Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid. We grinned at then and when they saw they were caught, we threw up the horns and started singing along with them, overacting the lyrics and cracking them up.
My husband and I were married for 10 years when we finally decided to go to college. Most of the students were fresh from high school and just starting those serious relationships. When a work study student caught me sending an email to my husband with all sorts of *ahem* suggestive extra curricular activities, she smiled and said "I love this! Gives the rest of us hope for a long romantic relationship!"
My daughter loves to wave to everyone when going to the stores.. and when noone waves back she is very sad. That's why I always wave back to a child, I know it makes their day!
She's lucky she didn't get sent off. She should be glad he had some self restraint. Arguing with the officials (even if they're 9) can be a sending off offense.
Sadly not always how it works. My place is open holidays. Weekends. 365 days a year. If its too busy you dont get a break unless you are under 18. Its rough
Those were my favorite days at school. Books, books and more books that I could choose from and take home with me forever. I still have a number of them.
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
Load More Replies...