incredible-marketing Arrow

toxic positivityToxic positivity is the belief that people should maintain a positive attitude no matter how dire or difficult a situation is. Additionally, toxic positivity is the idea a person should always be looking to the bright side of every situation while completely ignoring any adverse occurrences. While there are many benefits of having a positive attitude and being optimistic, toxic positivity can be dangerous for many reasons. Here are a few reasons why being positive all of the time is not the best approach.

Can Cause Guilt

For any situation you face, you can probably think of a worse scenario. Someone somewhere always has it worse than you. Toxic positivity can make you feel guilty for having negative feelings because what you are experiencing may not be as bad as it could be. For example, you may have had a bad day at work and be upset by it, but perhaps you feel guilty about it because, compared to others, you should feel lucky to have a job that can pay the bills. While it’s reasonable to acknowledge that a bad day isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you, denying your feelings about the situation works to devalue your legitimate concerns about what happened and how it negatively affects you. Just because it “could be worse” doesn’t mean that you should feel guilty when faced with an issue.

Avoids True Emotions

Trying to be positive all of the time can mask our true feelings. We may feel sad about something, but if we only try to be optimistic about that situation, we may fail to acknowledge how we are hurting. It is okay to feel sad. It is okay to feel angry. Being positive all of the time is not realistic or healthy. Reacting genuinely and authentically can help us work through other challenges such as addiction, depression, or anxiety. We cannot possibly work through these challenges if we simply avoid what we are truly feeling.

Toxic positivity has the possibility of stifling growth. We avoid our true feelings and feel guilty for the ones that we do acknowledge. To work through life’s challenges in a healthy way, we must face and acknowledge what we are truly feeling and going through. It may be uncomfortable and take more effort, but it will be beneficial in the end. Here at The Guest House, we understand taking the step to acknowledge your feelings and challenges is scary. We are here to help you every step of the way. Call us today to learn more about our different options and how we can help you at (855) 483-7800.