Day 14 - I Release Toxic Positivity

Having a positive perspective on life can help us keep moving forward, find solutions to problems, even help ward off depression. However, there is such a thing as toxic positivity. The pressure to always “look on the bright side”, to smile even when our life is falling apart. “It could be worse,” “Just be happy,” or “Stay positive!”

F*ck that.

Feel what you feel. Feeling the entire range of human emotions is normal and natural and healthy. Burying our emotions is not.

Toxic positivity comes into play when we tell ourselves, or hear from others, that we shouldn’t feel angry or sad or upset, when what we really need is the space to feel what we’re feeling. Being told, or telling ourselves, to cheer up or to smile, can make us feel like there’s something wrong with us for struggling. Or that we’re failing if we’re not upbeat all the time.

Spoiler alert: we’re not failing—we’re human.

It’s okay to not be okay.

It’s okay to be sad.

It’s okay to be angry.

It’s healthy to honor all our emotions—because every single one has value.

Let’s let ourselves feel what we feel, and release toxic positivity.