When something bad happens, do you dismiss it with “Everything happens for a reason?” Or maybe do you justify it by talking about how much worse things could be? If this sounds like you, then you may be a perpetrator of toxic positivity.
The rise of this saying has been heavily promoted by social media and influencers. In addition to this, the health and wellness industry has seen a recent and exponential rise in popularity. McKinsey & Company conducted a survey in which 58 percent of U.S. respondents said they are prioritizing wellness more now than they did a year ago. Nutrition, fitness, mindfulness and mental health are just a few focuses of the industry.
Roughly estimated to be worth 1.5 trillion dollars globally, the wellness market is booming, as the same survey reveals that millennials and members of Generation Z spend more than their elders on wellness products. This statistic makes sense, as wellness companies are constantly sponsoring online influencers to promote their products to their large audiences. This in turn causes many of their audience members to go out and buy these products.
Practicing gratitude is an extremely prevalent and widely-analyzed concept in the emotional wellbeing sector of health and wellness. Guided gratitude journals are widely sold, and many mobile apps, which provide users with prompts and reminders, are specifically designed for gratitude journaling. Gratitude practices have been introduced into educational settings as well as in corporate wellness programs. In addition to this, numerous books and articles have been published on the topic.
Positivity is trending. Countless academic institutions, government institutions and medical research centers have reported the health benefits of expressing gratitude in terms of improving mood, reducing stress and enhancing life satisfaction, including Harvard Health, Mayo Clinic Health System and the CDC. These centers are well-regarded and considered to be reliable and influential sources of information, but they don’t warn readers of the harmful effects of extremism. When does positivity turn into negativity?
Toxic positivity terms the unhealthy and unrealistic expectation that one should always maintain a positive mindset, even at the expense of suppressing or invalidating any negative emotions. In simple terms, this means that whenever someone experiences an upsetting occurrence in their life, they are encouraged to respond with only positivity instead of being allowed to express the anger or sadness they are likely feeling.
Some behavioral examples of how this toxic positivity can manifest itself in a negative way include comparing suffering, dismissing genuine concerns, blaming individuals for their emotions and ignoring mental health challenges.
While positivity is generally beneficial, toxic positivity can become harmful when it dismisses genuine struggles, emotions, challenges and trauma in the effort of reframing events in a positive light. In these cases, rather than rewiring one’s mindset to look at the positive, practicing ingenuine gratitude only serves to conceal existing problems. This unhealthy coping mechanism delays the constructive processing of negative emotions that is crucial to development and progress.
Combating toxic positivity involves healthy communication and recognizing and promoting a more balanced and empathetic approach to emotions. Employing empathy, understanding and active listening to take a healthier and more supportive approach to mental well-being. Emphasize self-compassion and acknowledge the complexity of human emotions to encourage a more sensitive and intuitive gratitude practice. While promoting realistic positivity is important, as it helps build self-confidence and creates a generally happier atmosphere; it is important to stay wary of the dark side of always looking on the bright side.
