Recently, there’s been a growing trend towards “toxic positivity”, the idea that you must stay positive no matter what’s going on in your life. This mindset pressures people to push away negative emotions, often implying that anything less than happiness means you’re not living life properly.
Everywhere you look, society promotes the idea that we should always be upbeat, whether it’s a friend telling you to “just think positive” or seeing yet another “good vibes only” quote on social media. Even when we’re facing real hardships like grief, sadness, or anger, there’s often an expectation to ignore those feelings and focus only on staying happy.
While positive thinking can help us face challenges, the idea of toxic positivity is harmful to mental health. It forces people to stay overly positive, even when it means ignoring or invalidating their real emotions. This can leave individuals feeling alone, misunderstood, or like they’re failing if they can’t stay optimistic, especially during tough times. Take grief, for example: telling someone to “stay strong” or “look at the bright side” when they’ve lost someone can shut down their need to grieve and prevent healing.
Toxic positivity is not only unrealistic but also unhealthy, as it encourages people to bottle up their emotions, leading to stress, anxiety, and even guilt. Instead of allowing people to express and work through their feelings, it pushes the idea that only happiness is acceptable. This can lead to feelings of shame when someone struggles with more complicated emotions, making mental health issues worse. Constantly having to appear happy also leads to burnout, as people feel like they need to wear a mask of joy, even when they’re struggling inside.
On the other hand, a balanced approach to emotions, the one that lets people feel sadness, frustration, and vulnerability, can help build emotional strength. Accepting negative emotions doesn’t mean abandoning positivity; it means embracing a more real and complete experience of life. By allowing people to fully feel and process their emotions, we can create a more supportive society that values mental health over the pressure to always be happy.
It’s important to understand that it’s okay to not feel okay sometimes, and that true emotional well-being comes from accepting both the highs and the lows. We need to move away from toxic positivity and embrace a healthier, more realistic approach to mental and emotional health.
