Forcing gratitude on people, especially people in pain, can be harmful. Nobody should be told to “stay positive” or “just be grateful” when they are going through trauma or real suffering. To truly help someone: We cannot deny their pain. We cannot push delusion, denial, or false hope. We must face the truth directly. Stress, fear, trauma — all of it needs to be felt, acknowledged, and understood. Ignoring it…
We often notice that when people are faking positivity and pressuring positivity, we tend to find that this is really a desperate cry for help. Because they are unable to face reality. They want to face a fantasy. And it’s a fragile and unstable happiness. I’m going to say something a little controversial — but it’s true: toxic positivity doesn’t actually exist. What we usually mean when we say “toxic…
Q: Dear Todd, I don't know how it is possible to not judge something as "negative" when I have found a wish in my heart and then things happen that seem to be the opposite to what my heart sees. TODD ANSWERS: I know exactly what you mean but it really is true that nothing is positive or negative. They really are two sides of the same coin. There is…
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