Throughout the past year, we have all went through a rollercoaster of emotions and at one point or another have probably been told to look on the bright side, or that things could be worse.
RTE star Anna Geary has taken to Instagram to share her feelings on this, and how toxic positivity can affect our mental wellbeing.
Sharing a side by side snap of herself relaxing with a cup of tea, along with another pic of her glammed up at a previous event, Anna wrote, “I been thinking about this lately..
“You don’t always have to “slap on a smile and just get on with things”. Sometimes it’s ok to feel “ugh” or upset, or frustrated. I consider myself to be a positive person… but to me “positivity isn’t about being happy all the time.
“It’s about knowing that even on the hard days, better ones are coming “.
She continued, “TOXIC POSITIVITY is creeping more and more into our lives. It seems odd to associate these 2 words together, doesn’t it?
“BUT some can relate… have you ever chatted to someone close to you & heard a reply along the lines of, “look on the bright side”, “stay positive”, “it could be worse”, “your troubles are small compared to others”, Anna added.
“Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for a “pep talk”, we all need those too. Just be mindful that it’s not appropriate for every situation! ESPECIALLY right now!
“Yes we are seeing progress in reopening our country (slowly!!!) but that doesn’t mean people now need to automatically switch to a super positive mindset! Worries, stresses & concerns still exist.”
Anna then added that toxic positivity can have negative effects on our own well-being, “And while a positive mindset can bring benefits to our health & wellbeing, I also have come to realise that forcing it can be detrimental to our wellbeing too.
“It’s as NORMAL to feel upset as it is to feel happy!!!!”
Explaining that forced positivity can have the opposite effect of its intention, Anna wrote, “Positivity in its truest form has the intention to uplift & motivate, but sweeping “positive” statements can often have the opposite effect, creating feelings of guilt or inadequacy for feeling a bit crappy.
“I’ve been guilty of dishing out the “look on the bright side” affirmations (I love a good quote) but sometimes just telling someone (or yourself) that’s it’s ok to feel upset, adds the most value. Sometimes just asking, “how can I help or support you?” is better than telling them they need to “think positive thoughts”.