We see a lot of toxic positivity in Christian circles due to the belief that God is good all of the time, but it completely invalidates the experiences of those going through a rough or traumatic time. Though the idea of being positive all the time sounds good on paper, it’s unrealistic because life is far from perfect. Whether we like it or not, life gets hard for all of us, and no amount of positivity can change that. Toxic positivity is all about being positive no matter what, inevitably ignoring and invalidating the experience of those struggling, even yourself. By disallowing the existence of certain feelings, we fall into a state of denial and repressed emotions.” ![]() Just like anything done in excess, when positivity is used to cover up or silence the human experience, it becomes toxic. doi: 10.1111/j. Psychology Group describes toxic positivity, saying, “The process of toxic positivity results in the denial, minimization, and invalidation of the authentic human emotional experience. Putting feelings into words: affect labeling disrupts amygdala activity in response to affective stimuli. Lieberman MD, Eisenberger NI, Crockett MJ, Tom SM, Pfeifer JH, Way BM. Leading forward: Embracing feedback and moving toward authentic positivity. Comment: the emotional basis of toxic affect. "Your wellness program is interfeing with my well-being": Reducing the unintended consequences of wellness initiatives in undergraduate medical education. The psychological health benefits of accepting negative emotions and thoughts: laboratory, diary, and longitudinal evidence. Positioning implicit theories of well-being within a positivity framework. Research suggests that just putting what you are feeling into words can help lower the intensity of negative feelings. When going through something hard, think about ways to give voice to your emotions in a way that is productive. In such cases, consider limiting your social media consumption. If you are left with a sense of shame or guilt after seeing “uplifting” posts, it might be due to toxic positivity. Following “positive” social media accounts can sometimes serve as a source of inspiration but pay attention to how you feel after you view and interact with such content. ![]() "Tragic optimism," or searching for the meaning behind difficult situations, is the opposite of toxic positivity and, according to some, is considered the antidote to this type of response. Look for meaning behind what you're going through.Your emotions can be as complex as the situation itself. If you are facing a challenge, it’s possible to feel nervous about the future and, at the same time, hopeful that you will succeed. Know that it’s okay to feel more than one thing.This can be especially helpful if facing toxic positivity at work, helping leaders evaluate the impact of their statements and actions. While challenging this type of response can be uncomfortable, confronting the person's approach provides them the opportunity to grow. Don't be afraid to challenge the person being toxically positive.Practice self-care and work on taking steps that can help improve your situation. When facing a difficult situation, it’s normal to feel stressed, worried, or even fearful. But this denies us the ability to face challenging feelings that can ultimately lead to growth and deeper insight. It prevents growth: Toxic positivity allows us to avoid feeling things that might be painful.When we feel difficult emotions, we then discount, dismiss, and deny them. Sometimes we turn these same ideas on ourselves, internalizing them. When people engage in this type of behavior, it allows them to sidestep emotional situations that make them feel uncomfortable. It avoids authentic human emotion: Toxic positivity functions as an avoidance mechanism.It sends a message that if you aren't finding a way to feel positive-even in the face of tragedy-you are doing something wrong. ![]()
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