Toxic positivity is the excessive or insincere enforcement of a positive mindset, to the point that it dismisses, invalidates, or suppresses real emotions. It is the belief that people should always maintain a positive attitude, regardless of their circumstances, which can be harmful rather than helpful.
Examples of Toxic Positivity:
- Saying “Just stay positive” when someone is going through a serious hardship instead of acknowledging their pain.
- Telling someone “Everything happens for a reason” when they are grieving, rather than offering genuine support.
- Dismissing feelings by saying “It could be worse” instead of allowing someone to process their emotions.
- Expecting people to always be happy and avoid expressing sadness, anger, or frustration.
Why Is It Harmful?
- Suppresses Emotions: Encourages people to ignore or deny their real feelings, leading to emotional distress.
- Creates Shame: Makes individuals feel guilty for experiencing normal, negative emotions.
- Prevents Healing: Avoiding difficult emotions instead of processing them can prolong pain.
- Lacks Authenticity: Encourages surface-level happiness instead of genuine emotional well-being.
Healthy Alternatives:
- Acknowledge emotions: “It’s okay to feel upset about this.”
- Offer support: “I’m here for you if you want to talk.”
- Encourage balance: “I know this is hard, but we’ll get through it together.”
True emotional well-being comes from allowing space for both positive and negative emotions rather than forcing constant positivity.
My Voice Unchained 