This is a term recently introduced by Dr Susan David from her book ‘Emotional Agility’.
Toxic positivity is the belief that no matter how difficult or bad a situation is, people should maintain a positive mindset. ... This attitude stresses the importance of optimism, yet it also minimises & denies the traces of human emotions that aren't solely positive or happy.
And as parents we can so do this!
And I think it’s super useful to be aware of this right now as we recover & process this pandemic.
So, get curious do you have a tendency for toxic positivity?
¨ Do you brush off feelings rather than face them?
¨ Do you hide or disguise how you feel?
¨ Do you dislike it, or does it make you feel uncomfortable when others don’t have a positive attitude?
¨ Do you feel guilty about being angry or sad?
And in particular with the pandemic…how are you talking about it are you brushing it off, feeling that it will all be forgotten soon or gone when things return to normal?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I invite you to get curious & notice when you respond in these ways.
And invite some space…pause, breath, have a moment.
Then recognise, understand & label what you are feeling before you act in response to that emotion.
Read my recent social posts with suggestions as to how to explore this topic further.
And if you are interested you might like these:
Susan Davis TED talk is a great watch:
And her talking with Brene brown:
Charlie x