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What is toxic positivity? With this expression we refer to those people (who has not met at least one like this!) Who take their positive thinking to the maximum extremes. There is nothing wrong with having a positive view of what is happening.
But be careful, never go to extremes: you do not get different effects from those who, for their part, are negative about everything. An attitude, that of positives “at all costs”, known as “Toxic positivity”, toxic positivity.
Toxic positivity: what is it?
On the one hand there are the negatives in the face of any occasion, on the other they dominate the positives “by status”. The latter, feel a real annoyance towards those who are discouraged, or sad enough to burst in tears.
They do not accept those who speak of failure, or those who seek confrontation because they are trapped in a personal crisis. There Toxic positivity, however, it occludes a natural part of us and, for this reason, a part to be accepted and externalized when the need is felt. It refers to the sensations of uncertainty, restlessness, confusion and so on.
The typical attitude of those “affected” by Toxic positivity is recognized in precise ways of doing or reacting.
Those who are positive “by status” always have the smile on the lips, even when the situation is anything but pleasant. Recite resilience-themed quotes on any difficult occasion or is passionate about goodies of masters of motivation. Always try to curb anger without ever giving in to an instinctive response. Toxic positivity also leads to feeling “guilty” when feeling sadness or distrust. Finally, always leads to the repetition of being able to do it on any occasion.
How to learn to mitigate optimism at all costs?
In order not to abandon oneself to the extreme of being positive always and at all costs, we need to focus on the fact that indeed there are situations in which it is normal to be in a state of fear. Illness and death are examples of this. Generally, we are afraid of what is new in a disruptive way to become part of our lives. In these cases, too much negativity would end up fueling this state of fear that could immobilize a person.
But optimism at all costs turns out to be toxic in the same way. Why? Being afraid binds us to reality. Fear for duties he is still a sentinel which also helps us make right decisions or avoid danger. Being alive doesn’t just mean being happy, positive, and content. Not always everything goes smoothly, and the range of emotions that give rise to uncertainty, confusion or crisis is also that from externalize and explore with maturity.
Sometimes to get rid of negative emotions, you just have to explore them. An act of courage, painful at times, but through which we do not hide any truth from ourselves. Living your own sadness it helps, moreover, to get to know each other better and to learn to self-manage even when something is wrong.
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