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As much as we love the internet for giving us an endless supply of knowledge and inspiration, it can sometimes be a pretty grim place. Every time we go online, we seem to face an onslaught of alarming headlines, rude comments, and heated controversial debates. If you can relate, then you're in great need of some positivity to show you that it’s not all bad.

Fortunately, today’s post is all about balancing out the scales by injecting some wholesomeness into our lives. Enter the 'Now That's The Stuff' Instagram account, full of the most soul-soothing and cheerful stories people share online in hopes of lifting others’ spirits. From hilarious coincidences to the most heartwarming acts of kindness, their posts remind us how selfless, thoughtful, and generous people can be.

With 173K followers and counting, this page serves as a breath of fresh air for anyone who might be feeling a bit down. So get ready to be showered in positivity because we at Bored Panda have collected some of the best posts from the page. Continue scrolling and upvote the ones you enjoyed most!

If you feel a slight concern for humanity right now, you might find comfort in knowing you’re definitely not the only one. News that we see on screens and in the media tends to focus on more negative occurrences. Unfortunately, such information can affect how we feel, and we all know how hard it may be to disperse those dark clouds that start looming over our heads.

Moreover, being bombarded with the worst scenarios every day eventually leads to getting tired of it, and that could be a sign it's time to take a short break or try to balance everything out with some positive content. We’re lucky to have cheerful outlets like the 'Now That's The Stuff' Instagram account that provides us with a quick distraction from the bleak headlines and adds a dash of happiness in challenging times.

Reading about wholesome encounters and incidents can make us feel slightly better about our world and remind us there are plenty of wonderful things that should be celebrated and applauded by as many people as possible. After all, creating joy is a major part of moving past the fear and anxiety we might be feeling today and may help us fight the uncertainty over the future.

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#5

Good Man (@wics20)

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Dave Harris
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now that is the kind of leader you want running your country! Bravo Sir!

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#6

Hero (@depheruk)

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KJ
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Got to love people that do things like this. When my mother first battled cancer we had an issue with the boiler, the local plumber knew my mother since he was a boy. After the second call out he took 13yo me with him to teach me how to do the relatively easy and safe fix for the issue to save us having to get him out to do it (not that he charged anyhow but we would be without heating until he could come round).

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While uplifting stories make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, they inspire us to do good as well. When we look at examples of how people lend a helping hand to their families, friends, communities, or total strangers, we want to contribute as well. And it probably won’t come as a surprise to hear that when we help others, we help ourselves as well.

There’s an abundance of research that says showing kindness fills our lives with happiness, improves our well-being, and can even lengthen the time we have on this beautiful planet. To find out what an expert had to say about this, we previously reached out to Stephen G. Post, Ph.D., a medical school professor, opinion leader, and author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People.

The professor explained there is a well-known psychological tendency for our actions to affect emotion. Like when we smile, even if we are not especially happy, the action itself will elevate our mood. "There is an emotional 'shift effect' that does not take long, really about one hour in adolescents, perhaps two hours in adults," he said. 

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Post added that helping also diverts attention from the self and its problems. "[It] engages the mesolimbic pathway, which releases one of the happiness chemicals dopamine. When engaged, this tends to shut down pathways associated with destructive emotions like rumination, hostility, and anxiety."

He provided an example of how volunteering improves our well-being: a survey of 5K American adults indicated 41 percent of them volunteered about 100 hours per year or an estimated couple of hours a week. The vast majority of the participants, 70 to 90 percent, said they felt happier, more resilient, and physically healthier. Moreover, they had better friendships and found more meaning in their everyday life, Post told us. 

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"Studies indicate it is good to get together with fellow helpers to debrief and process the experience," Post added. It appears that when we are forming fulfilling and enduring relationships with other people, it adds a lot. Creating small circles of trust is good for reflection and can bring value to our lives.

"Our friends are no longer just the folks we hang out with or part with. Helpers report deeper relationships formed in the community of fellow helpers," Post said and noted it’s always good to celebrate giving.

#14

Did They Bring Their Own Snacks? (T:todd_spence)

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Ty Stratton-Quirk
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The incredible part came immediately after the show ended, when all the dogs gave a standing ovation. No word yet on how they managed that...

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"As one who has managed several large volunteer programs, it is best to let helpers self-select the activity or venue they prefer." Sometimes they only want to do the things they are good at, other times they want to try something entirely new. "Some report a flow state of deep immersion and satisfaction, even a loss of a sense of time," Post said.  

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#17

Happy Happy Joy Joy 🤩

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If you feel that volunteering or making grand gestures is not your cup of tea, there are small steps you can take every day to make people around you just a bit happier. Dr. Stephen Post would like to remind you that it’s "not the amount of helping others that matters, but helping from the heart." He advises starting with small things done with kindness. "I like to Stop, Look and Listen mindfully to people around me so I can notice their needs better," he explained, adding that chronological rush can keep us from observing or hearing others’ needs. 

However, we’re well aware that life can sometimes be difficult. Even when we’re driven by the best of intentions, we may get affected by unexpected situations and adversities in our personal lives that can make it hard to support others. Post mentioned there is a side of "human nature that humiliates and de-dignifies others. It is widely expressed."

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But the good news is that we are all wired for altruism and kindness. "So we must always remember that everyone has that wonderful generous kindly flip side of the coin. The negative is just a part of the story," he concluded. 

#22

Shell Sweet Shell.

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Beth S
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is super wholesome. A shame crabs have the ability help each other out and humans can't seem to get it down.

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#23

Fixed It.

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A.J Milne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I found a NASA shirt in the girl isle as well, I'm wearing it right now. It's my favourite shirt

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#25

Baby Hippos? Say No More. (T:realscientists)

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Ja Le Gr
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just because one has a degree, doesn't mean that they're automatically entered into that fields workforce. I went to school for my associates in computer networking, but no one would hire me because I didn't have experience, I never really did do much with that degree unfortunately because of that. But I have worked for Starbucks before, and trust me when I say you can do a lot worse. They're one of the few companies that offer health benefits for part-time employees.

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#26

Love To See It 🙏 (Img:scarcenewz @wellsy351)

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Mistralok
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can do this Jarod. It had me down to 80 lbs, but I'm now up to 137. Have a little faith baby!

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#30

Well Played (T: @lorenzothecat)

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#34

Now That's The Stuff (@thatericalper)

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Beth S
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ahhhhh!!! This gave me chills in the best way possible! I LOVE THIS. <3

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#35

Queen (@ritajking)

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Michelle Muirhead
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That was a lovely gesture. Get more girls into science! In my physics class in High School, I was one of 3 girls!

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#36

A Reasonable Request (T:afolfie)

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Odette Boisvert
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my daugther and I did the same in the Louis-Hyppolite tunnel with Cotton Eye Joe!! a couple of cars rolled with us and we had a blast!!

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#40

Paw Patrol.

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Bex
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was in Las Vegas on my honeymoon. I asked a police if I could take a picture of his police car. He let me sit in the car and then he handcuffed me while my husband took photos. It was hilarious and I still remember his name: Bill! Thanks Bill! ❤️

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#41

Say Cheese!

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Mayo
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gotta feel like they were the best friend back then, married couple and in the end, still together forever and ever in heaven.

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#42

Needed This. (T:babyanimalspic)

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Kayla J
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you haven't seen a baby bison, you still haven't. This is a baby musk ox

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#48

It's A New Day... (@taliaschlanger)

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Kay blue
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's great that he got the help he needed to get a job, but sad that he had to stand outside holding up a sign for a year.

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#50

Not All Heroes Wear Capes (T:its_micah)

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Note: this post originally had 102 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.