It's been ten years since I founded Living With Inner Elegance, and in that time, I've explored numerous monthly topics in articles, podcasts, videos, and radio shows. Metrics show the subject that continues to receive the most attention: Hurt? What are You Going to Do? This is an exploration of how we react when feeling hurt and its consequences. Despite the many good things that happen, we tend to focus disproportionately on the negative aspects of life. 

Positive news, for example, tends to get buried under a cacophony of doom and gloom. Here's a sample of some recent positive developments that have received scant attention: an FBI Report showing a significant decrease in crime during 2023; an updated study recording a rise in empathy among young Americans; the 2024 World Happiness Report reporting a global increase in people helping others; stronger economic data than predicted; and for the first time, a baby born deaf can now hear thanks to cutting-edge gene therapy.

In news broadcasting, there is a saying, "If it bleeds, it leads." American Newspaper Publisher William Randolph Hearst coined this phrase at the end of the 1890s when he realized that stories involving horrifying incidents sold more papers. Why is it that negativity has this gravitational pull that is so highly seductive? 

For one reason, the subjects and purveyors of positivity and good news tend to be more modest and less likely to be self-aggrandizing with their announcements and achievements. For example, even after a cancer diagnosis, hip surgery, and 14 stitches to the head, Former President Jimmy Carter was still building houses with Habitat for Humanity at the age of ninety-five—an extraordinary achievement that isn't going to make headlines.

Another reason is that throughout history, each generation has been prone to some version of the collective belief that we're not going to survive, we've lost our way, and things used to be better. From this evolutionary survival point of view, it makes sense to keep a close watch on destructive and potentially harmful events. A beautiful spring day will not get our attention like a tornado does. This human trait permeates everything we do. We rarely forget an insult or a negative incident. We are distracted by even the minutest speck of dirt on a white shirt. Negative political strategies stick like glue even when proven based on misinformation. 

Psychologists refer to this as "negative bias," and scans show that when subjected to negativity, our brains produce a more substantial electrical charge than when exposed to something positive. Most of us are fortunate enough not to have to constantly worry about fleeing or fighting when our immediate physical safety is in peril. Still, this survival mechanism doesn't switch off even when we're safe. 

Negativity also gives us additional emotional boosts: Seeing someone else's shame or misfortune can make us feel better about our lives. "Well, at least I don't have that to deal with…" It can make us feel self-righteous and self-satisfied. "I'd never do that…" It can be used to certify our beliefs. "The world is dreadful, and here's the proof…"

Staying informed is crucial, but fixating solely on the world's unkindness, cruelty, and immorality is not. It's a drain on our time, energy, and resources. A bias towards the negative gives us a distorted perception of our world. Judging others solely on their wrongdoings blinds us to the many caring, kind, and open hearts out there. 

Amidst the abundance of negativity, it's our personal responsibility to actively seek out the decency and caring in others. By doing so, we can promote the good side, helping to balance the dialogue and perspective. There are numerous individuals and organizations we can support that are bringing us good news. Among them is Rick Schneider, the Up & Running Morning Show Host on WKZE. Rick always precedes my Inner Elegance spot with his "Now for The Good News" segment which he makes a point of researching daily and delivering hourly. 

There is a wealth of good news and daily acts of kindness and caring that often go unnoticed, and there will always be more. So, let's immerse ourselves in positivity, recognizing its value to our hearts, minds, and spirits. As the late John O'Donahue beautifully put it, "There is within each heart a hidden voice that calls out for freedom and creativity. We often linger for years in spaces that are too small and shabby for the grandeur of our spirit."