Unpopular opinion: It’s NOT always healthy to find the silver lining in everything. Some things just suck, and we don’t always need to look on the bright side, at the expense of *actually* processing hard feelings. 

Our culture is obsessed with a “good vibes only,” and “everything happens for a reason” state of mind that makes us feel like we’re failing if we’re not happy 100% of the time. Trying to see the positive isn’t always positive, sometimes shit happens that doesn’t make us stronger, and we’re ready to break up with toxic positivity so we can fully experience our emotions AND our loved ones’ feelings. (Because nothing is worse than platitudes.) 

So this week we called in author and psychotherapist, Whitney Goodman, to help us ditch toxic positivity and get real with our emotions. Whitney is the author of the book Toxic Positivity, a columnist for Psychology Today and appears regularly in publications like The New York Times and Teen Vogue. 

No one should have to pretend that everything’s ok when it isn’t, so if you’re looking for some validation, you’ve come to the right place!

Join us as we chat about:

• The signs of toxic positivity and why it gets in the way of your healing 
• Finding the balance between optimism, negativity and toxic positivity 
• How to deal with friends and family who dismiss your struggles
• The productive VS annoying way to complain 
• The impact of social media on toxic positivity 
• How to show up for others in a supportive way

We hope this episode helps you deal with your shit  and feel all of your very valid feelings.

For show notes and more adulting tips, visit:

teachmehowtoadult.ca

Sign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:

teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter 

Follow us on the ‘gram:

@teachmehowtoadultpodcast 

Follow Gillian:

@yunggillianaire

Follow Cailyn:

@cailynmichaan

Follow Whitney:

sitwithwhit.com

@sitwithwhit

Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy

Sign up for our monthly adulting newsletter:

teachmehowtoadult.ca/newsletter 

Follow us on the ‘gram:

@teachmehowtoadultmedia

@gillian.berner

Follow on TikTok: @teachmehowtoadult

Subscribe on YouTube