Here's What Happens When You Only Read Good News

GOOD NEWS SITES, APPS, & NEWSLETTERS

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👕WHEEZY WARDROBE

I post random, hard to categorize silly videos over here. Also a few occasionally active podcasts.

I often post questions on here related to videos I'm currently working on. Sometimes the answers end up in videos. Others post great or goofy or groofy discussions as well.

Just a place you can support me if ya want. In return you can get
• Monthly livestreams
• Scripts and notes
• Early releases of videos
• A video month featuring a 1 minute banjo face (it's a thing I do)

OCCASIONALLY ACTIVE PODCASTS

CONTACT

🙏 THANKS TOP TIER PATRONS
Joseph Middleswart

[nicholassaephanh]

I'm not going to lie, I don't really enjoy life very often, but the line, "it's not all roses and butterflies, but there are roses and butterflies" made me feel an inkling of hope.

[Alnakar]

It's so refreshing to see stuff like this being covered by people who don't pretend to have all the answers.
"Here's what I tried, and how it went for me" is so much more useful than "following my advice will change your life (and is it doesn't then you've failed in some way)".

I appreciate you!

[almosthailey]

The question I started asking myself was, “is there a way to be mindful while reading awful news?” Once I started practicing (as much as anyone can) non judgement while reading/watching the news, my anxiety around the doom and gloom changed significantly.

[KunoichiNrd]

One practice I did for my mental health was to do something similar with social media. I only scrolled through social media until I hit something toxic or triggering. It tricked the algorithm because it gave me less and less of those things because I was giving less and less attention to those things. I also added positive accounts (like Upworthy, The Dodo, and Some Good News). These two things have made my social media experience SO much better.

[alexlewis]

Hey Craig, I love your videos! I have a news-viewing suggestion for you. Back story for context: After the 2016 election I was struggling with my mental health and noticed how detrimental it was for me to scroll headlines or listen to the news. I quit for a while but came to a similar conclusion as you, that I felt pretty disconnected from the social narrative. I played around with different limiters: time-limiting my access to news, only checking the news in the evening, which worked pretty well to help my day-to-day optimism and motivation since I wasn't rinsing my brain with despair every morning. Around 2020 I settled on a strategy which has worked really well for me through the pandemic: I heavily prioritize reading local news. I find my local papers to have a great mix of feel-good stories, local discussions, issues, and perspectives. Because the scope of these articles is more granular and hyper-local, I feel less distress and instead feel more connected to my community. When there's a big issue going on locally, I have the ability to do something about it and can have a real impact. I have also become a font of knowledge for my friends and family about what is going on in our local community, which feels good! I hope you give it a try! Anyhow thank you for coming to my Ted Talk. 😊 Keep up all the great work becoming the best You that you can be!

[Ruth_Rosa]

My news intake has gotten a lot more positive since I started focusing mainly in my local news. It includes stuff about local events, or people doing good in my community, or stories from local people who've overcome tragedy, and it's really good. And it also includes bad things, but it's a lot more balanced.

[Ellary_Rosewood]

My Neighbor Totoro is a good example of a story with almost zero conflict that holds your attention throughout and will always be timeless. Stories like this exist, but you don't see them too often in American culture. We definitely need more stories and films like these. 🥰

[ForwardEarth]

I've been consuming only positive news for two years. It eliminates a lot of unnecessary stress and helps me to feel more hopeful about the future of humanity and my place in the world. And guess what: if the mainstream news is really important, it will find its way into your awareness. People will be talking about it; you'll hear about it from acquaintances or in some other media that you consume. We're not obligated to seek out the bad news we want to hear. Good news takes a little effort, but you will be rewarded instead of disheartened.

[bendadestroyer]

*I cut out all news years ago. My mental health is infinitely better. of the world's problems don't involve me and can't be helped by me. You have to let go.*

[sgsax]

Your point about "searching for resolution" is something I hadn't considered before, and it makes a lot of sense. As for a pessimistic jaded person like myself, I'm so conditioned to expect bad news that when I see positivity in any form, it utterly breaks me. Seeing that wedding footage might have choked me up a bit. Thanks once again, Life Coach Craig.

[joshuasharba]

Building on your focus in finding more positivity, I want to focus on my goal of contributing more positivity. Long time listener, first time caller. I've been enjoying your videos for a while now, but i've never felt compelled to comment. But for whatever it's worth to you sir; I just want to say I love the new format of your videos! I don't know what prompted the shift, but the more unique style of your intros and the format of the videos themselves feel a lot more intimate and compelling. I find myself more focused on your videos because there's little flashes of your personal life, and i find myself more invested because of it. For someone that is so focused on their growth and development, it shouldn't be surprising to say how much growth and development i've seen from you over the year, but from one stranger to another, it's been really fun to watch. Thank you for the quality content, sir! Looking forward to the new year!

[buttonanastasia]

Good for you man!

I stopped following mass media altogether on all my socials, subscriptions, and emails (I don't have TV or NPR) about 10 years ago. I've never looked back and my daily life is more positive. My creative thinking and questions about current events have also changed. I'm not being "fed" triggering words that are meant to arouse anger and rage. I can think about things critically and do my own research.

Like you said many times, I'm not ignoring current issues worldwide. What I do is check in weekly on events and do my own research on topics that I want to dive into. It's more selective and relevant rather than crafted by all and any mass media company.

[artkincell]

Congrats to those newlyweds. Now there's some Wheezy generated good news!

[alexwilder]

I read the odd New Scientist magazine and listen to This Week weekly news. I think news that focuses on the last few days gets toxic quick, but in-depth focus on problems and solutions that comes from weekly or fortnightly sources really helps me understand what's going on. Also, choosing a sideways or different perspective like the science one is helpful. You could pick up a philosophy magazine another week or a political one the next, and everything has news in it but instead of being just news, it's the context if that makes sense. More context and understanding means more of a sense of control and real involvement and thus more positive feelings.

[bluexroses]

Local news! Local paper, public radio, slow old fashioned journalism! It's not the frenzy of social media but it will keep you informed without being overly sensational. It keeps you more in touch with the stuff going on in your area, and less about big political/world/society level problems that it feels like you can't do anything about but stress you out anyway. You mentioned wanting that "conclusion" or "resolution" and I definitely feel like I get more of that when I'm reading actual journalism that has time to analyze and understand the thing they're reporting on.

[dianai]

I find a lot of "infotainment" channels on YouTube can be a source of good news that also feels real and keeps you in touch with what's happening in the world. The channel that comes to mind for me is "Two Minute Papers", and Professor Károly Zsolnai-Fehér always strikes me as such an optimistic presenter for his content, and that optimism is contagious: "What a time to be alive!"

[darlalove]

I got rid of TV a dozen years ago, no newspaper, no social media except YouTube and the only thing I watch on YouTube are art tutorials and your channel ! ! ! And the world turns without me making myself sick over it.

[bassoonrckr]

Hey Craig I highly recommend your local newspaper or alternative magazine (the kind that’s free at the grocery store/ coffee shop). Though there is still crime, there’s more relatable good news - local businesses opening, high school sports teams winning against rivals, and I find more resolution-stories in my local papers than anywhere else. And I love a community calendar, that feels like good news too. Thanks for the video!

[horchy]

Good news! You've been my favorite eagle punching YouTuber for the better part of 10 years. May you tube into your 100s Sir Wheezy!

[connorhillen]

I was like, "You can't show the bread again without giving the recipe" and then you did give the recipe. You're a good people, Craig.