This episode is dedicated to stopping the spread of Toxic Positivity, or the belief that staying positive is the right way – and the only way – to live your life. This idealizes only positive things or emotions and reject anything else that may trigger negative emotions. As your Director of Vibes, Leslie Schultz often encourages a positive mindset and shares many Tools for Positivity, however; if you choose to ignore the reality that negative emotions and experiences exist, you completely invalidate a crucial aspect of the human experience. Feeling our emotions is necessary. There is no right way to be or to feel, so whatever feelings are coming up for you right now, be it shame, grief, anxiety or joy, bliss and pleasure – it all shows up to guide us to the root of what’s going on inside at a deeper level. All emotions are valid and all emotions are neutral. They show up in our emotional bodies to signal where we need to heal.

Music Credit: It’s Okay Not to Be Okay by Nicki Bluhm