Yes, Toxic Positivity Is a Thing

Bad vibes, begone! Here’s how to look up while staying grounded.

- By Katherine Hammer

“Just try harder.” | “Don’t worry about it.” | “You’ll be fine.” | “Look on the bright side.” | “It’s no big deal.” | “It could be worse.” | “Let it go.”

So you’re having just about the worst week ever. You bombed your pop quiz (you were going to cram that Spanish vocab later in the week), got in a major argument with your mom about cleaning your room and didn’t get accepted to that summer science program you were psyched about.

As you’re venting to your bestie, she hits you with this: “Hey, it could be worse! Just think positive!” It’s not bad advice— but, tbh, it just doesn’t feel good.

Same goes for when you blame your so-so chem grade on not manifesting an A hard enough. Or when, no matter how hard you try, you just can’t feel happy about getting cut from varsity volleyball after you set a thousand spikes. And don’t forget well-meaning clichés from your grandma about your latest breakup (“See the glass half-full! Now you can meet someone better.”) or TikToks reminding you that, no matter what happens, you just have to love yourself.

What’s wrong with all these good intentions and well wishes? They don’t help validate your current struggles *or* put you on the path to solving a stressy sitch.