Can optimism be harmful? While positive thinking is beneficial for mental health, excessive optimism can lead to toxic positivity, which involves denying negative emotions rather than dealing with them in a healthy way.
Optimism is generally seen as a good trait that helps people overcome life’s challenges and problems. However, sometimes excessive optimism can turn into what is known as “toxic positivity.”
Toxic positivity leads to the denial of negative emotions and psychological pressures rather than facing and dealing with them in a healthy manner.
According to psychologist and professor at Adelphi University in New York, Deborah Serani, toxic positivity is "the over-adoption of a positive outlook on all situations without acknowledging or dealing with negative feelings."
Serani, in an interview with "Health" website, explained that this phenomenon has gained increasing attention in the last decade, alongside rising societal pressures that encourage individuals to maintain a positive attitude at all times, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Why Do Some People Become Excessively Positive?
While positive thinking has proven health benefits, such as reducing stress, boosting the immune system, and increasing life expectancy, overdoing it can have the opposite effect.
Clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School, Natalie Datillo-Ryan, clarifies that some people use excessive optimism as a way to escape negative emotions, a strategy known as "emotion avoidance."
This occurs when a person has a weak ability to handle emotional stress, so they try to suppress negative feelings and focus only on the positive aspects of life.
Are You Suffering from "Toxic Positivity"?
If you constantly avoid your negative emotions or feel uncomfortable when encountering sadness, anger, or anxiety in others, your optimism may have turned into toxic positivity.
Psychotherapist Noah Cass notes that some common phrases may signal this, such as:
"Everything will be okay."
"There are people suffering more than you, don’t exaggerate the problem."
"Always look on the bright side."
Using these phrases excessively might mean you’re ignoring the real feelings of yourself or others, which can lead to feelings of isolation or lack of understanding.
When someone overindulges in optimism, others may find it difficult to talk to them about their problems honestly, which could result in shallow and fragile relationships.
Psychologists explain that deep relationships require space for sharing true feelings, whether positive or negative, or else they won’t grow.
People who rely excessively on toxic positivity may feel misunderstood or even excluded from their social circles.
Additionally, some studies have linked excessive optimism to a reduced ability to cope with stress, poor academic performance, difficulty managing emotions, and health and psychological issues. It can even lead to making poor financial decisions due to ignoring realistic risks.
Tips to Avoid Toxic Positivity
If you feel your optimism is getting out of control, experts recommend adopting a more balanced approach between realism and positivity:
Acknowledge Your Negative Emotions: It’s okay to feel sad, frustrated, or anxious. Instead of suppressing them, try to understand and deal with them in a healthy way.
Listen Instead of Offering Quick Solutions: When someone shares their feelings with you, try to listen without excessively trying to cheer them up. Supportive phrases like "This must be hard for you" or "I’m here for you" can be more effective than saying "Everything will be fine."
Avoid Judging Negative Emotions: Don’t view negative emotions as something to be "fixed." They’re a natural part of life that should be faced and dealt with.
Use Supportive Expressions Instead of Forced Optimism: Phrases like "It’s natural to feel this way" or "I understand how tough this is for you" can be more supportive.
Agencies
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Can optimism be harmful? While positive thinking is beneficial for mental health, excessive optimism can lead to toxic positivity, which involves denying negative emotions rather than dealing with them in a healthy way.
Optimism is generally seen as a good trait that helps people overcome life’s challenges and problems. However, sometimes excessive optimism can turn into what is known as “toxic positivity.”
Toxic positivity leads to the denial of negative emotions and psychological pressures rather than facing and dealing with them in a healthy manner.
According to psychologist and professor at Adelphi University in New York, Deborah Serani, toxic positivity is "the over-adoption of a positive outlook on all situations without acknowledging or dealing with negative feelings."
Serani, in an interview with "Health" website, explained that this phenomenon has gained increasing attention in the last decade, alongside rising societal pressures that encourage individuals to maintain a positive attitude at all times, even in the most difficult circumstances.
Why Do Some People Become Excessively Positive?
While positive thinking has proven health benefits, such as reducing stress, boosting the immune system, and increasing life expectancy, overdoing it can have the opposite effect.
Clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School, Natalie Datillo-Ryan, clarifies that some people use excessive optimism as a way to escape negative emotions, a strategy known as "emotion avoidance."
This occurs when a person has a weak ability to handle emotional stress, so they try to suppress negative feelings and focus only on the positive aspects of life.
Are You Suffering from "Toxic Positivity"?
If you constantly avoid your negative emotions or feel uncomfortable when encountering sadness, anger, or anxiety in others, your optimism may have turned into toxic positivity.
Psychotherapist Noah Cass notes that some common phrases may signal this, such as:
"Everything will be okay."
"There are people suffering more than you, don’t exaggerate the problem."
"Always look on the bright side."
Using these phrases excessively might mean you’re ignoring the real feelings of yourself or others, which can lead to feelings of isolation or lack of understanding.
When someone overindulges in optimism, others may find it difficult to talk to them about their problems honestly, which could result in shallow and fragile relationships.
Psychologists explain that deep relationships require space for sharing true feelings, whether positive or negative, or else they won’t grow.
People who rely excessively on toxic positivity may feel misunderstood or even excluded from their social circles.
Additionally, some studies have linked excessive optimism to a reduced ability to cope with stress, poor academic performance, difficulty managing emotions, and health and psychological issues. It can even lead to making poor financial decisions due to ignoring realistic risks.
Tips to Avoid Toxic Positivity
If you feel your optimism is getting out of control, experts recommend adopting a more balanced approach between realism and positivity:
Acknowledge Your Negative Emotions: It’s okay to feel sad, frustrated, or anxious. Instead of suppressing them, try to understand and deal with them in a healthy way.
Listen Instead of Offering Quick Solutions: When someone shares their feelings with you, try to listen without excessively trying to cheer them up. Supportive phrases like "This must be hard for you" or "I’m here for you" can be more effective than saying "Everything will be fine."
Avoid Judging Negative Emotions: Don’t view negative emotions as something to be "fixed." They’re a natural part of life that should be faced and dealt with.
Use Supportive Expressions Instead of Forced Optimism: Phrases like "It’s natural to feel this way" or "I understand how tough this is for you" can be more supportive.
Agencies
