Brain Wired to Miss Good News: Why It Happens & What to Do
# Why We Need to Actively Seek Out Good News
It’s not just the media’s bias – although, as I confessed to *Unexplainable’s* Meredith Hoddinott, that’s undeniably a part of it. After nearly 25 years in journalism,I’ve learned that the press is fundamentally a watchdog,conditioned to bark loudest when things go wrong. But there’s also a deeper reason: our own negativity bias. Humans are hardwired to focus on threats, an evolutionary adaptation that once kept us alive on the savannah but now leaves us doomscrolling through headlines.
## The Evolutionary Roots of Doomscrolling
This isn’t a modern phenomenon; it’s baked into our brains. For millennia,paying attention to danger – a rustle in the bushes,a change in the weather – meant survival. Those who prioritized potential threats were more likely to live long enough to reproduce, passing on that hyper-vigilance to their offspring. Today, that same instinct manifests as a disproportionate focus on negative news. Our brains haven’t caught up to the fact that we’re no longer facing daily threats from predators. Rather, we’re bombarded with stories of conflict, disaster, and political turmoil, triggering the same ancient alarm system.
This constant state of alert isn’t just unpleasant; it’s detrimental.Chronic exposure to negativity can lead to increased anxiety,depression,and a sense of helplessness. It can also distort our perception of reality, making us believe the world is far more perilous and hopeless than it actually is. We become convinced that things are *always* getting worse.## Progress Ofen Goes Unreported
But what if things aren’t always getting worse? What if,beneath the surface of alarming headlines,genuine progress is being made? That’s what Meredith and I explored in a recent episode of *Unexplainable*,and it’s the core idea behind the Good News newsletter.
Consider these facts: despite fears about rising crime, the murder rate in the US is potentially on track to hit historic lows. And despite the worsening effects of climate change and the proliferation of billion-dollar disasters, fewer people globally died from extreme weather in the first half of 2025 than in any comparable period on record.
These aren’t isolated incidents. Across a range of indicators – from global poverty rates to childhood mortality to access to education – the world is, in many ways, getting better. Yet, these stories rarely dominate the news cycle. Why? Because good news doesn’t sell. Sensationalism and negativity grab our attention, while incremental improvements often go unnoticed.
### The Power of Realistic Optimism
Why spotlight developments like these, wich can feel like the opposite of news? Because focusing only on what’s broken can blind us to what’s fixable. Realistic optimism isn’t naïve; it’s necessary. It fuels the belief that problems, even enormous ones, are solvable, which in turn inspires action.
Think about the fight against climate change. it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the challenge.But focusing on the advancements in renewable energy, the growing momentum for lasting policies, and the innovative solutions being developed can provide a sense of hope and empower us to contribute to a positive future.
As I’ve discovered writing the Good News newsletter, this optimism can act like armor, helping us face a challenging, sometimes frightening future with greater resilience. It allows us to acknowledge the problems without being paralyzed by them.
## Good News: A Natural Extension of