Being positive is great.

Being positive is great.

But! As the saying goes, sometimes too much of a good thing can be bad.

Telling someone who is feeling anxious or scared or uncertain to just be positive and that everything will be okay or that it could be worse can seem insensitive and invalidating to that person.

Let them be who they are and be true to how they feel. These are normal emotions. One’s that we all face at some point or another.

What to do instead… listen. Try to understand. Think back to a time when you were feeling anxious or scared or uncertain. Or… be honest with yourself. Maybe you’re feeling those things, too. If you are. That’s okay. ❤ It’s normal.

What isn’t normal is faking how you feel or doing so because others say you should.

Be yourself. Your feelings are valid, and so are those of others.

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“I’m not okay.” said Bear.
“And that’s okay.” said Rabbit.

©Tara Shannon, 2021