S2E9 TOXIC POSITIVITY

WE CAN’T BE TOXIC FRIENDS

WHY I AVOID THE POSITIVE VIBES ONLY MOVEMENT

Two types of social media bios I dodge: 1) Bitcoin/Forex trader and 2) Positive Vibes Only. The former may be a given, the latter may seem strange. Why would anyone avoid a space of endless positivity? Sometimes positivity can be toxic.

How can positivity be toxic?

Toxic positivity is, essentially, positivity take to an extreme. Like with anything, once taken to an extreme, it becomes a vice. Remember just yesterday, he cried in your lap about being passed over for a promotion? See how, today, when you vaguely mentioned your dog’s poor health, he began burning sage in your face, telling you this is a positivity zone? One-way positivity is toxic and manipulative.

Play S2E9 Toxic Positivity

You’re not keeping it 100

If you live by “positive vibes only,” how can I trust you with real life and its challenges? A lot of the conversations that need to be had in life are unpleasant ones or involve unpleasant topics. How do we navigate this, under the law of “no negativity?” Imagine if our past leaders took on this stance. I’m fairly confident they would not have accomplished much.

What do I get to feel?

In my encounters with the positivity only group, I’ve learned I’m not allowed to emote. Or maybe I’m only allowed to express joy? I can’t control how I feel about things, for an outside person to think they should control how I feel about things is a lot to digest and satisfy. I don’t think I’m interested in satisfying this, even if I could.

Maybe it’s just me, but I struggle finding sincerity or light in this group. What I see is manipulation, posturing and need for control.

Let me know if I got it wrong. What are your thoughts on this topic?

Hope you enjoyed this week's entry! Be sure to check out our next post, Thursday!