What is Toxic Positivity? What's so bad about positive thinking?
No matter how challenging the circumstances, "We must stay positive," and "Good vibes only!" Comparable worldviews are referred to as poisonous positivism.
Even while it's typically said that optimism and finding the good in situations are healthy, toxic positivity dismisses all difficult feelings.
Even while it's beneficial to our mental health to view things positively, things aren't always positive2. Everybody has to occasionally deal with difficult feelings.
Most of the time, in order for difficult emotions to be accepted and for an individual to grow mentally, these feelings must be experienced and processed by the individual.
Consider losing your job due to layoffs. People may remark things such, "See the bright side of everything," or "It had to be this way." These remarks frequently prevent you from feeling or saying what you need to regarding the difficult circumstances you are going through.
"You have to stay positive." and "Everything happens for a reason." are some of the remarks that people close to you may offer after a loss. At this point, the remarks you hear could make the loss or sorrow you're experiencing harder.
In the face of sorrow or disappointment, remember that "happiness is a choice; you can choose to be happy." Noting your remark is another instance of toxic optimism.
Even though you are now disappointed, you can think that your unhappiness is your own fault. These people around you don't realise that they can't relate to you and stop you from feeling your feelings, even when they say things like that with the best of intentions.
For a second, let's pretend that we truly are the people that say "Good Vibes Only". We only ever feel bliss and not even the slightest negative idea crosses our minds, no matter what happens.
When you hear depressing news, all you can feel is joy?
Even if you hear about a catastrophe occurring in the world, you can't help but feel happy. Considering these instances was only one of many that demonstrated to us the dysfunctionality and futility of the "Good Vibes Only" credo.
We are aware of the various advantages of adopting an optimistic outlook and seeing the bright side of things. Positivity can boost resilience, help us handle stressful situations better, and even strengthen our immune systems .
Even with all of these advantages, what is said does not imply that "I should always view everything through a rose-colored lens."
It's possible that we want to feel good about ourselves and our loved ones. But to expect happiness to be the only feeling we experience is ridiculous.
learn to view issues from several angles and even shift our mental patterns to think more positively in treatment, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy.
The moment we anticipate to be free of negative feelings is when optimistic thinking starts to become destructive.