Updated on July 5, 2024
Do you know what is toxic positivity and why you should be beware of it? You must have heard many times people saying that positivity is the key to happiness. Yes, that is correct. Positivity is essential for happiness and success in life but you must avoid toxic positivity. At first glance, toxic positivity may not seem unhealthy but can cause guilty feelings, and prevention of emotional growth.
What Is Toxic Positivity?
We define toxic positivity as the excessive and ineffective overgeneralization of a happy, optimistic state across all situations. The process of toxic positivity results in the denial, minimization, and invalidation of the authentic human emotional experience.
The process of toxic positivity results in the denial, minimization, and invalidation of the authentic human emotional experience. Just like anything done in excess, when positivity is used to cover up or silence the human experience, it becomes toxic. Source: The Psychology Group
Examples of Toxic Positivity words
- Be positive
- Cheer up
- Look on the bright side
- Get over it
- Move on
- Everything is going to work out
- Be a man
Toxic Positivity Vs Real Positivity
There is a saying ‘It does not matter what your blood group is, A+ or O+, in life you must always be positive (B+) and grateful’.
During difficult times, for uplifting and empowering, it is very important to be grateful and positive but ensure not toxic positivity. If we shift attention from problems to blessings, that will melt away negativity and emotional pain. We need to feel positive in everything.
There may be intense emotional pain because of a recent heartbreak, family problems, misunderstandings, losing a job, workplace stress or a general sense of depression and stress. Whatever the situation may be, we must be always positive.
How To Handle When Someone Insults You?
Toxic positivity is not natural
Toxic positivity is not a feeling that springs naturally from the heart. It seems to be like a forced imposition either by mind oneself or others. Good positivity comes out naturally from the heart, but toxic positivity is like a forced imposition by oneself or others. Good positivity allows us to acknowledge negative feelings and emotional pain and also look at blessings. Toxic positivity does not allow one to feel the pains or to go through actual emotions and can be extremely harmful to mental health.
Credits: litvakexecutivesolutions
Conclusion
During tough times, we get advice from many people who try to make us positive. Many times we follow advice from social media. We can follow expert professional advice but must avoid social media posts giving advice because their aim is to get more likes and shares. They need publicity rather than helping people. Ensure that you are not following toxic positivity, but always accepting real positivity only.
Do you follow toxic positivity?
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Mathukutty P. V. is the founder of Simply Life Tips. He is a Blogger, Content Writer, Influencer, and YouTuber. He is passionate about learning new skills. He is the Director of PokketCFO.
He lives with the notion of “SIMPLE LIVING, CREATIVE THINKING”. He Believes – “Sharing is caring.” and “Learning never ends.”
