ACTUALLY.YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME

"It could be worse." "Everything happens for a reason." "Look on the bright side." "Just think positive!"

- 

We're gonna take a wild guess that you've heard one (or all) of these responses when venting to your bestie, mom or sister about your problems.

While these platitudes aren't inherently bad advice, they don't actually make you feel better. It's like blaming your so-so Spanish grade on not “manifesting” an A hard enough. Or when Grandma sends her signature “You'll meet someone better!” message after a breakup. And don't even get us started on the TikToks reminding you that no matter what happens, you just have to love yourself.

The problem? These good intentions don't really validate what you're going through or help you manage your stress. Truth is, sometimes positivity can be low-key problematic (or worse, toxic). So when should you focus on the bright side—and when is it OK to sit with the negative for a bit? Here's how to navigate those feelings.

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

Fact: There *is* such a thing as being too positive. Experts call this toxic positivity—focusing too much on staying optimistic while brushing aside or silencing any negative or sad feelings.

On the surface, that might not seem like a terrible approach to life. But the reality is that if you don't allow yourself to express and experience authentic emotions about tough situations (like the death of a loved one, your parents' divorce or a bad breakup), you'll end up suffering more later on.