It really isn’t realistic to feel happy every day. Sometimes stuff happens that will bring you down. Then you flick through Insta/FB/TikTok and see affirmations that tell you everything is ok and all you need to do is be positive.

That just makes you feel worse – guilty about feeling sad or embarrassed because you haven’t taken responsibility for your situation etc.

It’s ok to not be ok.

I woke up this morning and felt a little grumpy. No idea why. Didn’t shave (yes, I did shower) and went through my calls with my usual natural exuberance. There was no particular reason for feeling that way. By noon I was fine.

For lots of people, there may be a reason for not feeling positive about life or the day and, seeing or hearing stuff about positivity – known as toxic positivity in that context, just grates.

All I can suggest is that if you know someone feels bad and they speak with you, don’t dismiss how they feel with a casual, ‘just stay strong’ or ‘these things happen’. Allow them the space to deal with that emotion. And do it for yourself when you feel that way too! Acknowledge it.

It’s ineffective emotional management to do otherwise.

Sometimes you’ve just got the hump because shit happens!

Phot credit – Photo by Cyrus Chew on Unsplash