What if "look on the bright side" is actually making things worse?

Whitney Goodman joins Dr. Marc Brackett on Dealing with Feeling to unpack toxic positivity, why it's so tempting, and how it quietly trains us to distrust our own emotions.

They explore the difference between real support and emotional dismissal, and what it looks like to show up with validation instead of pressure.

In this conversation:

• What toxic positivity really sounds like (and why people rely on it)
• The line between helpful self-talk and emotional gaslighting
• Why kids need validation, not just encouragement
• How positivity obsession can worsen anxiety
• What it actually looks like to support someone in pain

About the guest

Whitney Goodman is a therapist and bestselling author focused on emotional truth, family dynamics, and mental health. She is the founder of Calling Home.

Learn more: https://callinghome.co

Connect with Marc Brackett:

Website: https://marcbrackett.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marc.brackett X: https://x.com/drmarcbrackett

Facebook: https://facebook.com/drmarcbrackett

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drmarcbrackett

Dr. Marc Brackett's Books

• Permission to Feel
• Dealing with Feeling

Explore Marc Brackett's work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where he serves as founding director, and learn more about RULER—an evidence-based, systemic approach to SEL developed at Yale that supports leaders, educators, students, and families in building emotional intelligence and creating healthier school climates.

A special thank you to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence for supporting this webcast. I also want to thank Oji Life Lab for their generous support: https://ojilifelab.com. Oji Life Lab is the leader in mastery-centered learning for the workplace. To develop your skills in leadership, emotional intelligence and more, visit oji life lab dot com or click the link in the description of this video and use the promo code DEALINGWITHFEELINGS to save 25%.