Years ago, during a season of burnout and frustration, I started something that I didn’t realize would become a lifelong habit — and eventually, the foundation of a book.

It started small. A piece of good news. A handwritten thank-you note. A newspaper clipping about a stranger doing something kind. I didn’t know what to call it then, but I kept those moments in a file folder in my desk drawer. Whenever the world felt overwhelming, I’d open that folder — and it helped.

That was the beginning of The Good News File.

Why I Needed It

Like most of us, I was surrounded by negativity. It’s the default language of the news, politics, workplace drama, and even the voice in our heads. Bad news gets attention. It spreads faster. But it also drains us.

At one point, I realized I had spent decades achieving success by most standards — yet felt hollow. I was focused on problems, always looking for what was broken. I had let discouragement become the filter through which I viewed life. That’s when I decided to flip the lens.

Instead of obsessing over what was wrong, I made a conscious effort to collect what was right.

What Goes in the Good News File?

The criteria are simple: if it lifts your spirit, it belongs in the file.

• A quote that brings clarity or peace.
• A story that reminds you people are still good.
• A compliment you received that felt genuine.
• A moment you witnessed that restored a bit of your faith in the world.

Over the years, my Good News File has grown thick with reminders that goodness still exists — and often, it’s closer than we think. Even on the worst days, I can flip through it and feel anchored.

Try It For Yourself

You don’t need anything fancy. A folder, a journal, or even a note app will do. Start by jotting down one uplifting thing per day. Just one. It can be small. In fact, it usually is.

You’ll notice a shift. Your eyes will start scanning for good instead of gloom. You’ll interrupt the spiral of bad news with something different: perspective. That’s the power of building a habit around hope.

Why It Matters Now

The world is noisy and chaotic. That’s not new. But your mindset is still yours to shape.

Choosing to gather good news doesn’t mean you’re naïve. It means you’ve decided not to let cynicism run the show. It’s an act of quiet resistance. And over time, it becomes a powerful source of strength.

As one of my favorite entries in the file reminds me:

“Hope is the ability to hear the music of the future. Faith is the courage to dance to it today.” — Peter Kuzmic

That’s what The Good News File is really about. Not ignoring reality — but choosing where to focus. Choosing what we carry. Choosing what kind of life we build, one small moment at a time.

If this idea resonates with you, I wrote a book built on this exact practice. It’s called The Good News File: Hope for a Modern World, and it’s filled with stories, quotes, and reflections gathered over 50 years of doing this work — looking for light, even in the dark.

You can find it here. Maybe it’ll inspire you to start a file of your own.