How Telling People To Cheer Up Can Be A Form Of 'Toxic Positivity'
- 4 years ago
Some people are committed to looking on the bright side of every situation, no matter how grim.
But according to HuffPost, that same healthy mindset can sometimes go too far, devolving into something called 'toxic positivity.'
It’s the belief that if we ignore difficult emotions and the parts of our life that aren’t working as well, we’ll be much happier.” Heather Monroe, LCSW Director of Program Development, Newport Institute.
Unblinking optimism and shutting the door on negative feelings doesn’t make them go away; if anything, it exacerbates them.
Toxic positivity can encourage a person to remain silent about their struggles. However, isolation actually fuels these emotional issues.
What's the solution? Accept that it's okay to recognize that multiple complex emotions can exist in you all at once.
You can be devastated at the loss of life from COVID-19, or the brutal reality of systemic racism, and still enjoy spending more time at home.
Once you've identified your feelings, take action to take care of yourself in a healthy, loving way.
But according to HuffPost, that same healthy mindset can sometimes go too far, devolving into something called 'toxic positivity.'
It’s the belief that if we ignore difficult emotions and the parts of our life that aren’t working as well, we’ll be much happier.” Heather Monroe, LCSW Director of Program Development, Newport Institute.
Unblinking optimism and shutting the door on negative feelings doesn’t make them go away; if anything, it exacerbates them.
Toxic positivity can encourage a person to remain silent about their struggles. However, isolation actually fuels these emotional issues.
What's the solution? Accept that it's okay to recognize that multiple complex emotions can exist in you all at once.
You can be devastated at the loss of life from COVID-19, or the brutal reality of systemic racism, and still enjoy spending more time at home.
Once you've identified your feelings, take action to take care of yourself in a healthy, loving way.