Emotional Avoidance

THE TOXICITY OF BEING POSITIVE ALL THE TIME

- LUKE COUTINHO

In the name of happiness, lies a lie that is sold to the world that weakens society every day at every level, and that's toxic happiness. No one is immune to emotions. No guru, meditation expert, or happiness coach can maintain constant happiness and positivity.

This is a human impossibility. As humans, we are entitled to experience the entire spectrum of emotions - happiness, sadness, joy, anger, guilt, resentment, jealousy, and many more. There is nothing inherently wrong with feeling these emotions. The issue arises when we become slaves of our own emotions.

Yes, happiness is important. It is essential for our health and longevity. But not all the time. It is okay to be sad. It is okay to feel human emotions so long as we do not become slaves to them.

Emotions act as messengers, conveying our inner states. Emotional well-being involves learning how to navigate through these emotions via action. For example, consider boredom. You can either remain trapped in boredom or take action to address it.

The Impact of Suppressing Emotions 

When we suppress our emotions, we inadvertently unleash a host of negative consequences upon ourselves. These consequences extend far beyond the surface level of momentary discomfort.

Here are some of the profound impacts of emotional suppression:

Elevated stress levels: Chronic emotional suppression leads to elevated stress levels, which can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical health.

Prolonged sympathetic nervous system activation: Suppressing emotions can lead to prolonged activation of the sympathetic nervous system, contributing to accelerated aging, inflammation, and delayed healing.