Swedish academic Hans Rosling has identified a worrying trend: not only do many people across advanced economies have no idea that the world is becoming a much better place, but they actually even think the opposite. This is no wonder, when the news focuses on reporting catastrophes, terrorist attacks, wars and famines. It is important to put all the bad news in perspective.

Why? Because when we worry, or think a problem is too big to solve, we spend energy on the wrong things, and take away from the opportunity to share more joy, and justice.