The Stories We Live By: How Hopeful Narratives Can Heal Climate Grief
- Rachel Bailleau
- Sep 21
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 27
Sometimes, it can feel like we are living in a horror film. When we see headlines about war, melting ice caps, wildfires, and species extinction, it’s easy to feel totally overwhelmed. We hear stories of people getting hurt by other people, or companies destroying the natural world to make shareholders rich, and we feel angry, heartbroken, and betrayed. These complicated feelings are real, and they matter.
But when we focus too much on these kinds of destruction stories (on the news, social media, or in conversations), we can get a distorted view of the world. In fact, there are so many things going right alongside the things going wrong. Communities are restoring forests, farmers are switching to regenerative practices, and people everywhere are creating local solutions for energy, waste, and food systems. Ordinary people are doing extraordinary things to save lives right as you read this sentence.
Even if it’s important to stay aware that we have a lot of work to do, if we find ourselves trapped in the idea that the world is doomed or people are inherently bad, we’re probably experiencing an unbalanced view of reality. Our view of the world gets shaped by consuming too many horror stories and not enough success stories. And importantly, these doom-filled stories make us want to curl up in a ball and hide from the world, instead of inspiring us to roll up our sleeves and be part of creating something better.
In short: listening to or reading too many bad stories gives us an inaccurate view of reality, is bad for our mental and physical health, and slows down the change we want to see. Let’s take a closer look.
From Doom to Solutions: Why Our Stories Matter
For years, human society lived by the story of endless growth. The idea was simple: more was always better. More shopping, more building, more extracting from the Earth. Progress was measured in numbers such as how fast the economy grew, how much we produced, and how much we consumed.
The impact has been profound. The endless growth story drove environmental damage, biodiversity loss, and widening inequality. It encouraged short-term thinking, valuing quick gains over the well-being of future generations. And it left many people under pressure, burned out, or disconnected from the natural world. (It also brought us some tools to help us build a better world, like cutting-edge medicines, affordable and efficient solar panels. There’s often a silver lining amidst dark times).
Not all societies have lived by the logic of short-term gain. Many Indigenous Nations and traditional cultures around the world follow stories rooted in responsibility to future generations. The Anishinaabe people say, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” The Haudenosaunee people teach us to make decisions with the following six generations in mind. These stories matter. Research shows that land managed with Indigenous presence is often more biodiverse than even officially protected areas.
But most people have lived by the endless growth story, until it fell apart and was replaced with: “We are doomed.” Apocalyptic headlines, melting glaciers, and mass extinctions flooded the collective imagination. It is no wonder so many feel frozen by despair.
Across the world, solution-oriented stories are beginning to replace doomsday predictions in small pockets. These narratives highlight cooperation, resilience, and innovation, pointing us toward a different kind of future.
Once solution-based stories become mainstream, the world will become a safer and healthier place. Hope is not just a warm feeling; it is a powerful psychological and physiological tool. Studies show that hopeful thinking increases motivation, persistence, and problem-solving, while also reducing stress and boosting immune function. Hope is not naive; it’s brave and powerful.
How Doom Narratives Paralyse Us
Stories of doom trigger stress, anxiety, and learned helplessness. What’s the point of trying to make the world a better place if it’s not going to work, right?
I can’t emphasise enough that how we act is strongly influenced by how hopeful we feel and by the people around us. In the famous 1968 “smoke-filled room” experiment, volunteers were asked to fill out a questionnaire while smoke began seeping under the door.
Unbeknownst to them, the other people in the room were actors instructed to behave as if nothing was wrong. Because the actors stayed calm, most participants also stayed seated, failing to leave a potentially dangerous situation or even raise the fire alarm. This shows that people can cause inaction when they aren’t tuned into a crisis. But it also works the other way.
Happiness is contagious: when those around us feel hopeful and joyful, it lifts our own mood, and we can just as easily pass that lightness on to others. Every time you choose hopeful and uplifting stories, you are spreading light to all the people you love, and every time you take action for the Earth, big or small, you are choosing not to let your inaction influence others.
Why Solutions Stories Activate Us
Hearing stories of people restoring ecosystems, innovating for climate solutions, or living regenerative lifestyles sends a powerful signal: change is possible, and you can be part of it. In Spain, farmers in Alvelal have revived thousands of hectares of desertified land by planting almond orchards alongside native shrubs, creating income while restoring biodiversity. In Denmark, citizens built local wind cooperatives that now power entire towns, proving communities can own their clean energy future. In France, groups of neighbours are turning abandoned car parks into thriving food gardens.
These are not abstract ideas but real practices already reshaping lives and landscapes. And when we hear about these stories, we realise that we too might have an opportunity to do something amazing where we are.
All the solutions for climate stability, biodiversity, and a just society already exist. Project Drawdown has shown that implementing existing technologies and practices could reverse climate trends at a fraction of the cost of inaction. What remains is the story we tell ourselves and others.
Small Stories, Big Impact: Using Mantras
We can use mantras (short phrases we repeat to ourselves) to help reprogram our brains towards positive stories.
When I don’t feel clear about the path forward, I often say to myself, “I’m building a beautiful life for my family; this is another step.”
This simple phrase helps me stay present, reduce worry, and move forward deliberately.
Choosing Hopeful Narratives to Heal Climate Grief
The stories we share about climate change influence not only our own well-being but also the people around us. Limiting doomscrolling, curating social media, and surrounding ourselves with hopeful, solution-focused voices can dramatically shift our society towards hope and healing.
Are you ready to start choosing hopeful narratives: for yourself, for your community, and for the planet?
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