Our Brains Say Yes—But Are They Right?
I asked Google and ChatGPT to list the significant events of 2025. AI instantly listed enough information to write several blogs. In January of last year, the Palisade and Eaton fires ravaged a Los Angeles community, destroying thousands of structures and affecting thousands more. In March, a 7.7 earthquake rocked Myanmar, killing 4500 people. Heavy monsoon rains from June to September impacted Pakistan, destroying homes, displacing many, and unfortunately killing over a thousand. A significant focus on immigration in the United States has resulted in mass deportations and increased border security. Fallout from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues, and peace and security are ongoing global concerns. Was 2025 a more negative year?
Probably not.
The human brain has a built-in negative bias that causes us to focus on the negative, stemming from our ancestors who needed that bias to survive—run away from a predator, be aware of an impending fire, or be ready to fight an enemy. Over many generations, this bias has become ingrained in our psychology, so that we tend to pay attention to, remember more vividly, and be influenced by negative information rather than positive reports.
While that was all well and good for our ancestors, this bias can lead to a distorted view of reality in modern life, making us feel more negative than we might otherwise, and leading our brains to respond more intensely to negative stimuli. The media exploits this bias by fixating on crime, war, and tragedy, suggesting the world is more dangerous or harmful than it might be.
But when we look beyond the headlines crafted to grab our attention, a more balanced picture emerges. Five significant positive events or trends from last year did not get as much attention as the tragic ones. I’ll list them.
- At the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference, several nations committed to far-reaching marine conservation efforts. French Polynesia pledged to establish a marine protected area covering 5 million km².
- 2025 was named the International Year of Glacier Preservation: an international initiative to highlight glacier melting, climate risk, and water security for millions.
- The 2025 global immunization summit secured over $9 billion in funding for global vaccination projects through 2030.
- 2025 saw significant advances in gene therapy and space and technology progress, quietly improving the quality of life for many.
- In 2025, organizations and individuals around the world have stepped up their humanitarian efforts, grassroots initiatives, and collaborative inventions to address health, cohesion, and reminding us that hope and progress are still very much part of our global reality.
Now imagine if I told you flooding in China had killed 4 million people last year. Your brain would immediately lean in—catastrophe grabs attention. (It did happen, but in 1931.)
It takes effort to train the brain not to jump to the negative aspects of things automatically. For me, I have to focus on what I can control, like my mindset, and limit exposure to negativity. I try to surround myself with positive people and curb my media consumption, challenging myself not to get in a negative groove. Instead, focus on the present and resist the temptation to doomsday scenarios. Accept what I cannot change.
As we step into 2026, we have a chance to recalibrate—to notice beauty alongside difficulty, to author our own narrative. Because while we can’t control the world, we can shape our perception of it.
“If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.” Lao Tzu
Here’s to a year of balance, perspective, and learning to …
Enjoy the Passage of Time.
© 2026. Sharon Kreider. All Rights Reserved.