The Privilege of Positivity

Run thoughts. 

I firmly believe there is a privilege to positivity. I’ve been thinking a lot about this and hope I have the right words to explain myself…. 

Let me start by saying I think having a positive mindset is always great but I think having the time, energy and resources to focus on your mindset and being positive is a privileged place to be. 

We need to be careful how much we preach about mindset being the end all be all to a successful, happy or healthy life. 

Some people are literally just in survival mode and their current mindset won’t change that. Some people cannot avoid negative daily interactions and telling them to just “stay positive” isn’t helpful at all. 

So what can we actually do to help? 

I don’t have all the answers but I do know spreading toxic positivity isn’t one of them. 

❤️ I love this – 

If being positive, means to not call out abject racism,
if it means, not to advocate for migrant families in cages,
if it means, to silently ignore human rights atrocities,
if it means, allowing my LGBTQ friends to have their rights eroded, if it means, to make peace with bigotry in the highest levels of our Government, if it means, abiding Muslims being vilified, if it means, to allow legislative violence to go unopposed, if it means, standing by while fellow Christians pervert the message of Jesus,
if it means, to avoid unpleasant conversations about the things that burden my heart because they make other people uncomfortable—then

Run thoughts. 

I firmly believe there is a privilege to positivity. I’ve been thinking a lot about this and hope I have the right words to explain myself…. 

Let me start by saying I think having a positive mindset is always great but I think having the time, energy and resources to focus on your mindset and being positive is a privileged place to be. 

We need to be careful how much we preach about mindset being the end all be all to a successful, happy or healthy life. 

Some people are literally just in survival mode and their current mindset won’t change that. Some people cannot avoid negative daily interactions and telling them to just “stay positive” isn’t helpful at all. 

So what can we actually do to help? 

I don’t have all the answers but I do know spreading toxic positivity isn’t one of them. 

❤️ I love this – 

If being positive, means to not call out abject racism,
if it means, not to advocate for migrant families in cages,
if it means, to silently ignore human rights atrocities,
if it means, allowing my LGBTQ friends to have their rights eroded, if it means, to make peace with bigotry in the highest levels of our Government, if it means, abiding Muslims being vilified, if it means, to allow legislative violence to go unopposed, if it means, standing by while fellow Christians pervert the message of Jesus,
if it means, to avoid unpleasant conversations about the things that burden my heart because they make other people uncomfortable—then I guess I won’t be positive today. (Pavlovitz)

. (Pavlovitz)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR