Forcing yourself to always be positive and happy is not necessarily a good thing. — AFP
“Let's stay positive!”
It’s a mantra that we’re hearing more than ever in this period dominated by depressing news stories and in an era that emphasises and prioritises personal development and positive thinking.
While a positive outlook can indeed be good for mental health, when it’s perceived as essentially an order to be happy when one’s emotional state is far from it, this positive focus can end up becoming counterproductive, and even fall into the realm of toxic positivity.
According to psychologists who have studied the question, toxic positivity refers to the phenomenon of repressing all negative emotions, to the point of pretending to be happy and always assuring those around us that everything is fine.
But in the long run, the fact of repressing our negative emotions and not facing our psychological discontent (whether it’s anxiety, fear or loneliness) can result in the emergence of symptoms of depression.
“[T]he ability to live with our emotions is essential.
“Suppressing or avoiding them does not solve anything.
“In fact, trying to avoid negative emotions at all costs does not bring about the desired effect – on the contrary, the emotions tend to return more often, and more intensely,” Université du Québec (Montréal), Canada, PhD candidate in psychology Andrée-Ann Labranche explained on the media website The Conversation.
But at a time when positive thinking is very popular and openly displaying one’s distress or negative feelings (especially since the pandemic) seems to be less and less tolerated in society, it is not always easy to express and externalise what one is feeling.
According to a survey conducted in early July (2022) by Germany-based market research start-up Appinio, 60% of French people think that the emphasis on being happy is becoming more and more prevalent in society.
According to the survey, 28% of French people tend not to answer honestly when asked how they are doing, probably for fear of being misunderstood.
This is particularly the case during holidays (62%) or major “happy” events such as a wedding (61%), but also with their family (59%) or at work (57%).
Meanwhile, when it comes to social networks, 72% of respondents admit that they feel pressured to display a positive attitude when they go on such platforms, especially Facebook (41%) and Instagram (22%). – AFP Relaxnews
