A lot of the time, we look at positivity like its sunshine that can get rid of any type of sadness or frustration. But sometimes we go overboard, which can result to us making statements that promote toxic positivity. According to life coach Marc Accetta, toxic positivity is when people force their perceived positivity on others, undermining their situation in the process. What’s difficult is that it can be hard to distinguish optimism and toxic positivity. Here are ways to avoid toxic positivity in our words and in life.
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psychologytoday.com |
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Approach situations with compassion
Toxic positivity is engrained with privilege. Statements made in the guise of toxic positivity often reflect more on the person speaking rather than the situation they perceive to diffuse. This is why people on the other end could consider the words callous. You have to be able to recognize the pain point of the subject and offer an optimistic response that also addresses the situation.
Be aware of your privilege
Personal opinions tend to become positively toxic when someone who is more privileged belittles another person’s problem just because they don’t see it as a problem. For example, Brian, who always arrives on time at the office, tells Jeffrey, who is constantly late, that “If I can do it, so can you.” The problem is, Brian drives lives near the office and drives to work while Jeffrey has to spend an hour commuting to work.
Discerning actual optimism
Toxic positivity often channels a self-serving energy of optimism. You might think that you’re just encouraging people but you’re really not. Marc Accetta believes that true optimism can be achieved by thinking about the situation and how you can offer help. So instead of telling someone to delete their negativity, you could ask them how they feel and tell them that they are not alone in their ordeal.
Whether it’s for their personal, professional, spiritual, or social life, the people who come to Marc Accetta are those who need help in reaching a workable plan to achieve their goals. He is one of the most recognizable life coaches in the country. For more reads on personal growth, visit this website.
