Toxic Positivity

When Good Vibes Go Too Far

We’ve all heard phrases like “just stay positive” or “everything happens for a reason.” Meant to uplift, sure — but in 2025, people are calling out a darker side to that constant cheerfulness. Enter: Toxic Positivity.

Toxic positivity is the idea that being overly positive — to the point of ignoring real problems or difficult emotions — can actually be harmful. It’s the pressure to smile through burnout, slap on a gratitude journal instead of setting boundaries, or pretend you’re fine when you’re clearly not.

It’s especially rampant in online wellness spaces. Influencers often post “good vibes only” quotes, hustle harder mantras, or hyper-curated lives that leave no room for struggle. The message? If you’re not happy, you’re doing something wrong.

But more people are pushing back. Therapists, mental health advocates, and regular folks are saying that feeling bad isn’t failure — it’s human. Ignoring pain doesn’t make it go away. In fact, pretending everything’s okay can make someone feel isolated or invalidated.

Workplaces aren’t immune either. Some companies mask burnout culture with “wellness” initiatives that avoid addressing root issues like poor management or lack of boundaries. Offering a meditation app while overloading teams with tasks isn’t balance — it’s branding. That’s why conversations about emotional honesty are surfacing even in high-pressure sectors like devops, where human-centered leadership is becoming essential.

The rise of toxic positivity as a buzzword shows a shift: people want realness over perfection. Vulnerability over forced optimism. Life isn’t always aesthetic, and pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone.

So next time you’re tempted to say “just look on the bright side,” consider this: sometimes, the best thing you can do for someone — or yourself — is to let things be not okay for a moment. The world doesn’t need more fake smiles. It needs space for truth.