Thank you for saying this, Taylor. I think of emotions as messengers, and if we listen to those messengers to find out what they're trying to tell us, we tap into insights from our soul that we would otherwise have missed.

Just as importantly, we incarnate to EXPERIENCE life, and if we try to ping each one of our pains or confusions with a peppy catchphrase — to "affirmation" it away — is kind of the antithesis of sucking the marrow out of this gift of incarnation.

The idea is not to wallow in the negative emotions forever, but rather to look toward them with curiosity so that we can mine them for the healing gifts they contain. And if we're in a shitty situation that doesn't contain a gift (e.g., grief), then toxic positivity is basically the antithesis of a self-loving approach; it's an invalidation and dismissal of the emotions that deserve more lovingkindness.

All of this to say: keep spreading the good word. ;)