By Ghadeer Ghloum
KUWAIT: The notion of toxic positivity has taken root, quietly poisoning our emotional well-being. It promises of eternal sunshine, which suppresses our true emotions through a plastered smile that invalidates our struggles, hence blocking our authentic healing. Counsellor and psychologist Dr Ali Al-Taresh spoke to Kuwait Times about the irony in today’s promotion of relentless positivity and a seemingly bright facade.
Dr Taresh explained toxic positivity and why it can be harmful, emphasizing on the importance of acknowledging and addressing negative emotions. "Toxic positivity is the excessive and unrealistic promotion of a positive outlook to the extent that it denies or negates genuine human experiences of pain, suffering or difficult emotions.
It involves an overemphasis on maintaining a positive stance, often at the expense of acknowledging and addressing negative emotions or challenges. This mindset can be harmful because it does not encourage authentic expression of feelings and may contribute to suppressing legitimate fears or conflicts. It is important to recognize and validate a range of emotions, whether positive or negative, for a more comprehensive and healthy emotional well-being,” he said.
Moreover, Dr Taresh elaborated it is important to acknowledge and express our negative emotions, because this is the steppingstone towards addressing our problem and healing it authentically. "Striking a balance between acknowledging and expressing negative emotions while advocating for overall positivity requires recognizing emotions and validating them without judgement. It is necessary to express negativity constructively, utilizing communication and mindfulness to find healthy emotional outlets,” he said.
Dr Taresh suggested a few ways to overcome negative feelings and embrace genuine positivity. "Positive reframing and setting achievable goals promote a more balanced perspective, avoiding unjustifiable focus on negativity. Incorporating practices such as gratitude, self-compassion and seeking support when needed contributes to achieving emotional balance. A comprehensive approach that includes a healthy lifestyle and conscious consumption of information ensures a flexible and optimistic outlook on life,” he noted.