DALL·E 2025 01 04 16.45.48 An illustration of several people helping each other in a warm and compassionate atmosphere. The scene shows individuals supporting one another shari

Discovering the Goodness in Humanity

Imagine walking into a supermarket when suddenly a powerful earthquake strikes. Shelves collapse, products scatter, and the electricity goes out. In that moment, what do you think the strangers around you would do?

Would people help each other, guiding others to safety or comforting distressed children? Or would chaos break out, with everyone focused solely on themselves, scrambling for supplies and pushing their way out of the store?

Many might instinctively believe that people would prioritize their own safety, even at the expense of others—much like the dramatic scenes we often see in movies. However, the real world might be warmer and more compassionate than we imagine.

DALL·E 2025 01 04 13.34.48 A realistic digital painting depicting a scene inside a supermarket during a powerful earthquake. Shelves are collapsing products scattered across th

When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, media coverage initially flooded the news with reports of looting, violence, and disorder in the affected areas. Yet, later investigations revealed a different reality—one filled with stories of residents helping one another, sharing resources, and volunteers stepping in to provide aid.

After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, evacuees in shelters maintained order despite severe shortages. People patiently lined up for supplies, and some even gave their blankets to the elderly or children to protect them from the cold.

Dutch historian Rutger Bregman, in his book Humankind, highlights how during World War II, Allied forces bombed German cities in an attempt to crush morale through fear and chaos, hoping it would lead to surrender. Surprisingly, post-war studies showed that the psychological resilience of the bombed citizens was stronger than expected—sometimes even more so than in areas untouched by the attacks.

In extreme situations, rather than descending into panic, people often become more united and willing to support each other. Our instincts frequently misjudge human nature, assuming that crises breed selfishness. Yet, cooperation and solidarity are deeply ingrained in our genes.

DALL·E 2025 01 04 13.36.44 A realistic digital painting showing a scene of community solidarity after a natural disaster. The setting depicts an urban area with damaged building

Why Have We Become Increasingly Negative?

To be fair, it might not be entirely our fault.

The human brain is wired to be more sensitive to “bad news.” This psychological tendency, known as Negativity Bias, is an evolutionary survival mechanism designed to alert us to danger and prevent repeated mistakes.

Every day, we are bombarded with reports of scams, theft, and instances where good people are framed or deceived. Rarely do we see stories highlighting neighbors helping each other or strangers assisting the elderly across the street.

The Precious Traits of Humanity: Empathy and Trust

If we truly lived in a world driven entirely by coldness and selfishness, our society wouldn’t function as smoothly as it does.

We swipe credit cards, shop online, use delivery services, and board airplanes—all relying on trust in strangers. If humanity were genuinely untrustworthy, these systems simply wouldn’t work.

Trust and empathy are the invisible forces that keep the world running.

While negative examples may occasionally surface, remember—there are far more people willing to lend a hand than you might think. As James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, once said:

Bad things are always happening loudly: the injury, the flat tire, the mistake that gets you criticized. Everybody talks about the moments that make things a hassle.

Good things are always happening quietly: the completed workout, the healthy meal, the ten minutes of writing. Nobody talks about the little moments that add up.

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