What is Toxic Positivity and Why It's Unhelpful (Ft. Whitney Goodman)

How many times have you heard phrases like "you'll be fine," "don't cry," "everything happens for a reason," or "it could be worse"? When working through difficult emotions or challenging circumstances like loss, breakups, illness, or family issues, it can be frustrating when we are urged to be more positive. The truth is that even amid life’s challenges, we’re often pressured into being positive. We’re told to “look on the bright side” and be happy.  And sometimes we ourselves tend to be overly positive because we just want to fix a friend’s hurt and help them feel better. While optimism is important and needed, there’s also something to be said for when positivity becomes toxic and prevents us from working through difficult emotions. But how can you recognize the difference between toxic positivity and optimism? And how can you find other ways to work through negative emotions? In this episode, Jordan talks with therapist and author Whitney Goodman about what toxic positivity looks like and how we can leave space for our real feelings. Grab your headphones and tune in to this episode to learn:What toxic positivity is and what it’s notWhy silencing negativity and difficult emotions doesn’t always workHow to recognize if our positivity is toxicWays to support someone going through a hard timeHow to complain and vent effectively / in a healthy wayWays to help your child regulate their emotions instead of resorting to toxic positivity Ready to dig deeper? Learn more at sitwithwhit.com. P.S. If you haven't yet, make sure to grab a copy of Jordan's book, Embrace Your Almost.