Finding the Positive When Negative Always Seems to Lead the Way

Most nights, I don’t even watch the national or local news anymore. I don’t have Twitter or Facebook, so I don’t get my news that way. I end up doing my own reading of at least 11 newspapers every day to ensure I’m getting as a complete picture as I can. Some are more left-leaning publications. Some are more conservative. But at the end of the day, I feel it is critical to see the “whole picture”…at least as much as I can.

It may be crass but I’ve heard the saying “if it bleeds it leads” used often when describing the prioritization of what stories are on the television newscast or are on the front pages of newspapers. Human nature, which I understand, draws us to more negative stories. But for me, it’s getting old. 

If all you do is follow the headlines, even from a well-balanced series of news agencies, you would think the world is coming to an end. Or maybe that it’s already over. I’m not a Pollyanna. The day’s issues are great and there are challenges for all of us. But there’s also a lot of good in the world. Maybe it’s because I’ve spent my life in nonprofit/charity work that I’m a little more aware of it---more optimistic.  There are some good people doing wonderful things to help other people---daily--hourly. And they’re just not covered or leading the news.

My hope is that everyone can find a little bit of positive happiness not only in their individual world but in between the negative stories that are pushed at us constantly. It’s challenging enough to chart a successful course in life, but it certainly is more enjoyable in doing so when you have a little bit of a positive attitude and believe there are good people doing their very best in a challenging world.